The huge solar storm contains the electricity grid and satellite operators on the edge (2024)

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Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory caught this image of solar flares early in the Saturday afternoon.Observatory for solar dynamics Hide caption

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Observatory for solar dynamics

Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory caught this image of solar flares early in the Saturday afternoon.

Observatory for solar dynamics

Planet Earth is shaken in decades by the largest solar storm - and the potential effects are responsible for power networks, communication systems and satellites on the edge.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that there have been measurable effects and effects of the geomagnetic storm that has been visible as aurora about large cuts in the northern hemisphere.

There is some breakdown and loss of communication systems that depend on high -frequency radio waves, Noaa told NPR, as well as some provisional indications of irregularities in energy systems.

"In short, the Power Network has been busy since yesterday and has worked to stay good, regulated current without disturbance," said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for Boulder, Co.Space Weather Prediction CenterNo noaa.

"Satellite operators are also busy following the health of the spacecraft because of the S1-S2 storm that takes place with the serious geomagnetic storm that continues even now," added Dahl and said that some GPS systems had had difficulty at locationsto lock and offer incorrect positions.

As Noaa had warned late on Friday, the earth experiencedA G5 or "Extreme" geomagnetic storm.This is the first G5 storm that since 2003, when the planet touchesA similar eventTemporarily knocked the power in a part of Sweden and damaged electrical transformers in South Africa.

The Noaa center predicted that this current storm could visibly cause auroras to the south as North California and Alabama.

Posters of Bright Auroras visibly places photos of Bright Auroras all over the worldRussia,,Scandinavia,,The United KingdomInContinental Europe.Some reported to see Aurora as far to the south asMallorca, burning.

The source of the solar storm is a cluster of solar flows on the surface of the sun that is 17 times the diameter of the earth.Events.Is more common among the top of the 11-year-old solar cycle of the sun.

They usually miss the earth, but this time Noaa says that more people are directly on their way to our planet and the desk predicted that more waves of torches will continue to hit the ground in the coming days.

Although the storm has proven to be great, it can be difficult to predict the effects of such events, Dahl said.

Shocking problems

The most disturbing solar storm ever registered, came in 1859. Known as the "Carrington event" the shiny Auroras, which was visible in southern Mexico and Hawaii.

Although this geomagnetic storm will not be that strong, the world has become more dependent on electronics and electrical systems.Turn and activate temporary power loss in some areas.

The storm will probably also disrupt the global positioning system, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with Noaa. Disse's effects can hang a few days after the storm.

Just like Dahl, Steenburgh said it is unclear how bad the disturbances will be.We are more dependent than ever from GPS, there are also more satellites in the circuit.A swimming pool."Stop happiness should not be expanded," said Steenburgh.

The radiation of the storm can have other unwanted effects.At high heights it can damage satellites, while at low heights it probably increases the atmospheric characteristics, causing some satellites to sink to the ground.

The changes in circuits that destroy Havoc, warns Tuija Pulkinen, president of the Department of Climate and Space at the University of Michigan.

"There are many companies that have not seen these types of height effects before," she says.

The international space station lies in the magnetosphere of the earth, so the astronauts must usually be protected, says Steenburgh.

In a statement, NASA said that astronauts would not take any further measures to protect themselves.For further precautions, "the office said at the end of Friday.

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People visit St.Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see Aurora Borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England.Ian Forsyth/Getty images Hide caption

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People visit St.Mary's Lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see Aurora Borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England.

Ian Forsyth/Getty images

To look up

Although this storm will undoubtedly keep satellite operators and utilities in the coming days, individuals do not really have to do much to get ready.

"As far as the audience is going to do, hopefully they don't have to do anything," said Dahl.So keeping some flashlights and a radio practical can prove to be useful.

And don't forget to look outside, Steenburgh adds.This Aurora event is much further visible to the south than normal.

A weak aurora can be detected by a modern mobile telephone camera, he adds, so even if you can't see it with your eyes, try to take a picture of the air.

Aurora "is really the gift of space weather," he says.