Since Friday evening, an extremely powerful solar storm has been hitting Earth, potentially generating the Northern Lights in several parts of the world, including Italy and the United States. Last night, the aurora was already observed in some parts of Italy. This storm could also cause disruptions to electricity supplies and communications.
The Repercussions of the Solar Storm
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued an unusually serious warning about this geomagnetic storm, which was triggered by an intense solar flare.
Contrary to expectations, the effects of this explosion hit Earth on Friday afternoon, much earlier than expected. The aftermath is expected to last through the weekend, and possibly into next week.
NOAA has urged operators of power plants and spacecraft in orbit to take precautions, as has the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Most people here on planet Earth won’t have to do anything,” said Rob Steenburgh, a scientist at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
According to the latter, the aurora borealis generated by the storm could reach as far south as Alabama and northern California. However, experts indicate that the typical colored “clouds” of an aurora borealis should not be seen, but rather green spots.
The Effects of the Aurora Borealis
According to Steenburgh and his colleagues, the best shots of the aurora can be made using smartphone cameras, which are superior to the human eye in capturing light.
Smartphones may be able to capture the aurora even when it’s not visible to the naked eye. “Take a picture of the sky and you might find a nice surprise,” advises Mike Bettwy, the forecast center’s operations chief.
Historical Impact of Solar Storms
The most intense solar storm in recorded history, which occurred in 1859, spawned auroras as far away as Central America and possibly Hawaii. Shawn Dahl, a space meteorologist with NOAA, says the current event could be close to that. Bloomberg reports that the magnetic storm in question is classified at the highest level: G5.
This storm poses a risk to high-voltage transmission lines for power grids, but not to household power lines, as Dahl assures. The consequences could also affect satellites, with possible disruptions to navigation and communication services on Earth.
