This week, a massive explosion on the surface of the Sun released billions of tons of plasma, which could affect the Earth today i.e. on Friday. The outburst, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), ejected plasma from the southwestern quadrant of the Sun. It is pushing it towards the Earth with the help of powerful solar winds.
A gorgeous prominence has erupted from the eastern limb of the sun. pic.twitter.com/ZYAr0DEmS3
— Edward.Vijayakumar (@edwanx) April 24, 2023
According to predictions made by scientists, the particles have a 50 percent chance of disrupting satellites in Earth’s orbit and a 10 percent chance of causing blackouts. The stream contains powerful radiation that can disrupt Earth’s technology.
geomagnetic storm
The solar wind is also predicted to form a G1 geomagnetic storm, which can affect orbiting satellites in space. Coronal mass ejections have the potential to eject billions of tons of corona material from the Sun’s surface. Plasma and magnetic fields make up matter. Such eruptions also have the potential to disrupt space weather. It can also be dangerous for those going into space.
The European Space Agency’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, which studies the Sun, captured it. The CME particles are said to be hitting Earth only by chance, as the stream originated from a coronal hole in front of our planet.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted that due to this the Earth’s magnetic field may be affected at 6 pm on Friday (28 April 2023). Earth’s magnetic field has become ‘destabilizing’ since Thursday and will remain so for the next 24 hours, according to EarthSky, as high-speed solar winds pass through the coronal hole. Three coronal holes have been detected on the surface of the Sun. At the same time, a total of 7 sunspots named AR3275, AR3279, AR3276, AR3277, AR3272, AR3273 and AR3278 are active on the Sun.
Solar storm can cause huge damage
Scientists have divided solar storms into a total of 5 categories from G1 to G5. A G1-class solar storm is much milder. The potential for damage is extremely small, while a G5-class solar storm is very powerful. Solar storms can cause severe damage to satellites. Due to this, mobile network and internet services can also be disrupted. They can also damage power grids and earth grounded sensitive electronics when they are extremely powerful.
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