ANOTHER huge solar flare occurred just days after the last one led to stunning northern lights in the UK and US – but don’t expect another big display.
This latest explosion is even stronger than the weekend blast and is the largest in nearly two decades.
3
Severe solar storms have the power to disrupt GPS satellites, electrical grids, electronic devices – including cell phones – and the Internet.
The least destructive and enchanting result is the dazzling green and purple auroras, commonly known as the Northern Lights.
But this new explosion is not expected to cause any chaos and a light display is also unlikely.
The worst-case scenario is the temporary loss of radio signals, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Earth escaped the line of fire as the flash erupted on a part of the Sun spinning away from us.
NOAA has issued an alert warning that the sun is “not out yet.”
The most recent flare is classified by experts as X8.7, stronger than the weekend’s X2.2 flare.
And it is the longest in the current 11-year solar cycle that the Sun goes through.
“Due to its location, any CME (Coronal Mass Ejections) associated with this eruption will likely NOT have any geomagnetic impacts on Earth,” NOAA explained.
But NOAA’s Bryan Brasher told the AP that the explosion may have been even stronger when scientists gather data from other sources.
Meanwhile, the UK Met Office said that “any sightings are likely to be limited to high latitudes”, with “only a small chance of extending as far south as Scotland or similar latitudes”.
The Sun is approaching the peak of its 11-year cycle, which is leading to powerful bursts of energy and material being launched at high speeds and potentially hitting Earth’s magnetic field.
3
What are the Northern Lights?
Aurora displays occur when charged particles collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles.
In the Northern Hemisphere, most of this activity occurs within a band known as the aurora oval, covering latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees.
When activity is strong, it expands to cover a larger area – which explains why displays can occasionally be seen in the far south of the UK.
Visibility of the Northern Lights increased on Friday due to an “extreme” geomagnetic storm, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The phenomenon appears as beautiful dancing ribbons of green and purple light that have captivated people for millennia.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
