What is the impact of solar storm on the earth
4hw.com.cn: Recently, it is reported that a huge solar storm is about to strike. Solar storm refers to the violent activity of the sun, which causes strong disturbance between the earth and the sun. What will be the impact of solar storm on the earth and our daily life? Let's have a look.
Solar storms can destroy satellites, disrupt power supplies, and trigger northern lights. It was generated by a big explosion in the sun's atmosphere last week called a solar flare, the charged particles of which are now rushing towards the earth.
The solar storm comes as the earth's magnetic field cracks. Every year around March 20 and September 23, cracks appear in the earth's magnetic field. Cracks in the magnetic field will weaken the earth's ability to withstand charged particles, and commercial flights and GPS systems will be affected by solar storms. Cracks in the earth's magnetic field also mean astronomers are more likely to see northern lights this week.
It is possible to see parts of Scotland and northern England, as well as parts of the United States in the 'Arctic Circle', including parts of Michigan and Maine.
What are the effects of solar storms on the earth?
Charged magnetic particles from solar storms can interfere with earth's orbit and surface machinery, such as GPS systems and radio signals. They could also pose a threat to airliners by disrupting the earth's magnetic field. Very large solar flares can even generate electricity in the grid, destroying the power supply.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) wrote in a statement: 'a small magnetic storm is expected to occur on March 14 and 15, 2018, and auroras may appear in high latitude areas. According to NOAA, after solar flares on March 6 and 7, particles from the sun may cause 'grid fluctuation' and 'weak impact on satellite operation'.
NASA said the first of the two solar flares -- classified as strong x-rated, directly toward Earth -- was the largest since this year.
It is one of the largest solar flares in the 'solar minimum' cycle that began in early 2007. The geomagnetic storms are classified according to the severity. The G level is low, the R level is medium, and the s level is high.
NOAA said the forecast showed that the solar storm was g-1. Based on the arrival of charged particles to earth, the solar storm may be upgraded to G-2. This solar storm coincides with the formation of 'spring and autumn equinox cracks'.
On March 20 and September 23 of each year, the sun goes straight into Earth's orbit, so the length of day and night are roughly the same. But the earth's magnetic field will also crack during the day and night, lasting for several hours. NASA and NOAA use a series of telescopes and detectors to track solar activity and help predict geomagnetic activity.
The researchers also study the sun to learn more about its structure and obtain data to predict different types of solar flares. These include solar flares and coronal mass ejections - plasma clouds and magnetic fields ejected by the sun. Solar flares and particles ejected by coronal mass ejections are related to sunspots on the surface of the sun. Sunspots are all areas of intense magnetic activity. When the magnetic fields in sunspots intersect, energy explosion will occur, which is called solar flare. When solar flares occur on the sun's side toward the earth, they only affect the earth. Sometimes these explosions cause coronal mass ejections - the sun ejects a lot of plasma clouds and magnetic fields.
Forecasters monitor these events, and when a solar storm appears likely to have a significant impact, technicians can shut down some systems on the satellite, or take precautions against possible impacts on the grid.
Sunspot activity cycle is 11 years, the most recent peak occurred in April 2014.
This summer, NASA will launch a spacecraft called the Parker solar probe, which will be closer to the sun than any other spacecraft in the past.
It will fly over Venus into the corona, the upper atmosphere of the sun, to learn more about the particles ejected by the sun.