News Highlights:
- Recently, the most powerful solar storm in nearly six years slammed Earth.
- According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the geomagnetic storm peaked as a severe G4 on the 5-grade scale.
Solar storm
- About
- Solar Storms occur during the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots (‘dark’ regions on the Sun that are cooler than the surrounding photosphere – the lowest layer of the solar atmosphere) and can last for a few minutes or hours.
- High-magnetized solar particle ejections are known as solar storms or Coronal Mass Ejections by astronomers.
- The production of the “northern lights,” visible in the areas near the Arctic Circle, is one of the impacts of a solar storm affecting Earth.
- Disruption of satellites and other electronic communication systems is one of the negative effects of solar storms.
- Duration:
- It can take these particles between 13 hours and five days to reach Earth at a speed of several million kilometres per hour.
- The effects of geomagnetic storms can linger in the Earth’s magnetosphere and atmosphere for days to weeks.
- Effects:
- Humans are shielded from these particles by the planet’s atmosphere. However, Humans and other mammals are susceptible to radiation sickness from extremely high-energy particles like those transported by coronal mass ejections.
- The particles can influence artificial structures, interact with our planet’s magnetic field, and cause powerful electric currents to flow near the surface.
- Solar storms and flares close enough to Earth can affect the upper atmosphere and the space weather in the planet’s vicinity.
- Global positioning systems (GPS), radio, and satellite communications operations may be impacted by solar storms.
Types of Solar Storms:
- Solar flares:
- A solar flare is an abrupt increase in brightness on the Sun that is typically seen close to its surface or near a group of sunspots.
- A coronal mass ejection frequently, but not always, occurs together with strong flares.
- In total solar irradiation, often known as the “solar constant,” even the strongest flares are hardly noticeable.
- Coronal Mass Ejection (CME):
- The solar corona releases a considerable amount of plasma together with a magnetic field.
- They frequently appear after solar flares and are typically seen during an eruption of a solar prominence.
- Geomagnetic Storm:
- A geomagnetic storm, also known as a solar storm, is a brief disruption of the Earth’s magnetosphere brought on by an interaction between the magnetic fields of the Sun and the Earth.
- Solar Particle Events:
- A solar particle event, also known as a solar proton event (SPE) or prompt proton event, occurs when particles (mostly protons) emitted by the Sun are accelerated either by coronal mass ejection shocks in interplanetary space or by flares that occur close to the Sun during the event.
How does it Affect Earth?
- Impact Space Weather:
- Not all solar flares reach Earth, but solar flares/storms, Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs), high-speed solar winds, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) that come close can impact space weather in near-Earth space and the upper atmosphere.
- Impact Space-Dependent Services:
- Solar storms can hit operations of space-dependent services like Global Positioning Systems (GPS), radio, and satellite communications.
- Aircraft flights, power grids, and space exploration programmes are vulnerable.
- Disturbances in the Magnetosphere:
- Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) with ejectives loaded with matter travelling at millions of miles an hour can potentially create disturbances in the magnetosphere, the protective shield surrounding the Earth.
- Astronauts on spacewalks face health risks from possible exposure to solar radiation outside the Earth’s protective atmosphere.
Prediction of Solar Storms:
- Computer models:
- Solar physicists and other scientists deploy computer models to forecast solar storms and other solar activity.
- Current models can forecast the arrival timing and pace of a storm. However, the structure or orientation of the storm cannot be foreseen.
- Orientations of the magnetic field:
- Certain magnetic field orientations can cause the magnetosphere to respond more intensely, resulting in more violent magnetic storms.
- Thus, with the increasing worldwide reliance on satellites for nearly every activity, improved space weather forecasts and more efficient measures to safeguard satellites are required.
Pic Courtesy: Freepik
Content Source: The Indian Express