A huge eruption of filament from the Sun’s outer layer on May 7 has shot out a coronal mass ejection (CME) that is set to strike Earth’s magnetic field, which could spark solar storms once it arrives. A CME is a huge bubble of plasma shot out from the Sun which contains billions of tons of fast-moving solar particles as well as the magnetic field that binds them.
NOAA analysts have warned that the incoming CME might deliver a “glancing blow” to Earth’s magnetic field on May 10, with possible minor geomagnetic storms as a consequence.
Experts at Spaceweather.com report: “A magnetic filament on the sun erupted May 7th, hurling a CME into space.
“NOAA analysts say it might deliver a glancing blow to Earth’s magnetic field on May 10.
“This is a low confidence forecast. Minor geomagnetic storms are possible if/when the CME arrives.”
US Space Weather Center (SWPC) ranks solar storms on a scale of “G1 Minor”, the least intense, all the way up to “G5 Extreme”.
Luckily, the possible incoming solar storms, which occur if there is an efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding the Earth, are predicted to be minor.
But even the weakest of storms threaten “power-grid fluctuations” and have a “minor impact on satellite operations” if the storms come into direct contact with a satellite or power transformer, it can cause some problems back down on Earth.
At the stronger end of the scale, this is where it starts to get more dangerous.
Luckily, the possible incoming solar storms, which occur if there is an efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding the Earth, are predicted to be minor.
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“A return to Quiet or Unsettled conditions from 12 May will follow.”
The incoming CME may only spark minor storms, but experts have warned in the past that the Earth is not prepared for stronger storms, which could spark blackouts lasting days.
The SWPC said: “During storms, the currents in the ionosphere, as well as the energetic particles that precipitate into the ionosphere add energy in the form of heat that can increase the density and distribution of density in the upper atmosphere, causing extra drag on satellites in low-earth orbit.
“The local heating also creates strong horizontal variations in the ionospheric density that can modify the path of radio signals and create errors in the positioning information provided by GPS.”