- Two explosions from the Sun set to impact Earth from TODAY – with a 60% chance of GPS blackouts in certain parts of the world
The Sun blasted two powerful streams of energised particles directly at Earth over the weekend, prompting a solar storm warning this week.
The first is expected to hit Monday, and the second by Wednesday; both have a 60 percent risk of producing radio blackouts, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Centre (SWPC).
Space weather specialists projected that power grid troubles could occur on the planet’s dark side and at higher altitudes, such as the poles, disrupting aviation communication, ham radios and even satellites in orbit.
The event is expected to produce breathtaking auroras as far south as northern Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.
Physicist Tamitha Skov warns of problems for amateur radio and GPS users on Earth’s night side.
Two active sunspots, 3559 and 3555, emitted coronal mass ejections (CMEs) one day apart.
CMEs are capable of ejecting billions of tonnes of corona material from the Sun’s surface. The substance is composed of plasma and magnetic fields.
Such eruptions have the potential to cause space weather, which can disrupt satellites and power grids on Earth and be hazardous to unprotected astronauts.
On January 20, Skov said on X, “We have one, if not two, #solarstorms heading for Earth today!” The first launched around Region 3555. It is forecast to hit between early morning and midday on January 22.
‘The second is a side-swiping storm that began about 3559. It may deal us a glancing blow on January 23.
‘Also, an unstable filament is currently in the Earth’s hit zone. If it launches, it will be a third storm aimed at Earth!
The first CME is expected to hit our planet no early than 1pm ET on Monday.
SWPC also posted on social media, stating that ‘the general public does not need to be frightened,’ but that the northern lights will be visible in multiple US states this week.
However, the agency has published an official warning on its website regarding a geomagnetic storm, which is a transient disturbance in the Earth’s magnetosphere triggered by a solar wind shock wave.
The geomagnetic storm is expected to be a G2 event, which is considered moderate on the SWPC scale.
During G2 storms, voltage modifications may be required, and some devices may sound false warnings.
Satellites and spacecraft in orbit may face drag, which could disrupt operations.
SWPC’s advisory also mentions potential implications on HF (high frequency) radios in higher latitudes.
In an interview with DailyMail.com earlier this month, Skov explained that radio waves (known as ‘radio bursts’) affect satellite signal reception and HF radio communications.
‘It’s as if the Sun is screaming at us during a solar flare.
This “scream” is significantly louder than our satellites’ “chirps,” and thus briefly drowns out the satellite signals.
‘That being said, the Sun does not always scream at the specific frequencies that impact GPS signals.’
The notice primarily applies to frequencies used in aircraft communication, government time stations, weather stations, amateur radio, and citizen band services, among other applications.
Sunspot 3559 is now twice the size of Earth and visible on the Sun’s surface without amplification.
