One of the most powerful solar storms in the last five years was unleashed yesterday after a massive solar flare erupted from the sun. Space weather scientists are closely watching the sun’s activity as the storm could interfere with satellite communication and power grids.
Joseph Kunches, from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said:
“Space weather has gotten very interesting over the last 24 hours… When the shock arrives, the expectation is for heightened geomagnetic storm activity and the potential for heightened solar radiation… There is the potential for induced currents in power grids… Power grid operators have all been alerted. It could start to cause some unwanted induced currents.”
NASA captured a video of the solar flare (below) as it erupted and hurled a “big blob of magnetized material” toward the earth. The AR1429 sunspot region shout off a solar flare on Sunday and two more yesterday. The AR1429 region is currently pointing almost directly at earth which means that the coronal mass ejection could have a big impact on earth.
Harlan Spence, an astrophysicist at the University of New Hampshire, told SPACE.com:
“The sun is waking up at a time in the month when Earth is coming into harm’s way. Think of these CMEs somewhat like a bullet that is shot from the sun in more or less a straight line. When the sunspot is right in the middle of the sun, something launched from there is more or less directed right at Earth. It’s kind of like how getting sideswiped by a car is different than a head-on collision. Even still, being sideswiped by a big CME can be quite dramatic.”
The New York Times reports that the coronal mass ejection will hit earth at about 1:30 a.m on Thursday morning.
Here’s a video about the 2012 solar flare from NASA.
The giant active sunspot AR1429 has given space weather scientists plenty to monitor recently and the solar activity isn’t expected to slow down anytime soon. The sun’s activity is expected to increase until it peaks next year.
“We’ve got a whole series of things going off, and they take different times to arrive, so they’re all piling on top of each other. It complicates the forecasting and predicting because there are always inherent uncertainties with any single event. Now, with multiple events piling on top of one another, that uncertainty grows.”
Alex Young, a solar physicist at NASA Goddard, said that it isn’t inevitable that the solar storm tonight will interrupt satellite communication. Young says that the solar storm may just put on a great light show, saying that auroras will be visible as far south as Illinois.
Do you think satellite communication will be disrupted by the solar storm? Or will we just get a chance to watch a great light show?
No wonder its been so windy!
No wonder its been so windy!
Ikr
Maybe I should run to the bank and grab my cash? hmmm
OMG WERE ALL GONNA DIE.
I knew I should grab cash on the way home! lol
Yup its coming for us…..
Well, I guess ill b up late. Don't wanna miss this 8)
Oh wow… Me too!
Oh wow… Me too!
We shall c what happens! Can't wait. Dangerous to stand outside? Maybe too high of winds?
where is it suppose to be visible from?
What is this!
So, does this mean we are going to die or what?
Wait, so is this going to be in Wisconsin?
The big one's coming. But Korea must drop the 1st nuclear bomb!
your not going to die, lol.
I'm right up north. Northern lights Gunna be crazy tonight
Woww, this is going to suck.. No power? No school..
Wonder if can see from Hawaii…
OK LOOK I HAVE SEEN MOVIES ABOUT THIS AN READ ABOUT I DNT TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS.. BUT WE R N THE END OF OR TIME NOW .. WAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE STORM HITS ITS GOING TO KNOCK OUR POWER OUT AN WE WILL BE LIVING IN A BLACK OUT NO PHONE NO INTERNET NO LIGHT…. IS TIME TO SEE WHO U REALLY BELIVE IN WELL I'M GONE WANT TO KNW MORE ABOUT GO TO ASK.COM I KNW WAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE EARTH GOES DARK… MARSHALL LAW AN IF U DNT KNW WAT THAT IS LISTEN TO 2PAC… BUT NOW ITS IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE "THE 4TH BRANCH" LISTEN TO SONG AN TELL ME WAT U THINK NOW
Yeah, this blows…
Omg make sure u make videos ! I jus heard about the storm right now .. That's nuts ! I hope it doesn't do anything crazy to us lol
Omg make sure u make videos ! I jus heard about the storm right now .. That's nuts ! I hope it doesn't do anything crazy to us lol
My address is 1429 and the wind is insane outside~WTF?
As said, increasing activity til next year… but the end of the world is in December. Coincidence, anyone? (2012)
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OK LOOK I HAVE SEEN MOVIES ABOUT THIS AN READ ABOUT I DNT TALK TOO MUCH ABOUT THIS.. BUT WE R N THE END OF OR TIME NOW.. WAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE STORM HITS ITS GOING TO KNOCK OUR POWER OUT AN WE WILL BE LIVING IN A BLACK OUT NO PHONE NO INTERNET NO LIGHT…. IS TIME TO SEE WHO U REALLY BELIVE IN WELL I'M GONE WANT TO KNW MORE ABOUT GO TO ASK.COM I KNW WAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE EARTH GOES DARK… MARSHALL LAW AN IF U DNT KNW WAT THAT IS LISTEN TO 2PAC… BUT NOW ITS IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE "THE 4TH BRANCH" LISTEN TO SONG AN TELL ME WAT U THINK NOW.
it was really windy on march 6th. then there was a power outage. same?
Ugh so this is why my internets been so laggy lol.
You have more chance of being knocked over by a bus, so don't worry too much….You may notice slow internet connections or weak phone signals for a while but the sky isn't going to fall on our heads just yet. Carry on enjoying life : )
Geomagnetic activity does not only interfere with modern technology….Are any of you getting extra migraine type headaches lately? Our Ionosphere reacts to strong solar flares hence the wonderful light show but it also affects the frequencies in the air, geomagnetic storms and headaches….The more sensitive you are to your environment the more prone you are to them.
Bardi Bann LOL after I got out my astronomy books I felt better. x] I did some research.
That's good…..Yes it is something to be aware of and very relevant to our lifestyles but beware of the fearmongers out there.
They don`t need to drop anything, the Flares will activate them in time.
It shall be a intersting result non the less. Get ready.
It shall be a intersting result non the less. Get ready.
does that mean I can charge my sunnyBAG even faster?
Iwish we all died lol
WIND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT ITS Y ITS HOT AND COLD EVERYDAY.
Posted: March 7, 2012
Not really if this does happen it can go crazy FAST riots, hiper inflation, very Unlickely a solar flair will effect earh but if it did they would be no radios, TV, phones, no power, you will have to steal food to survive or hunt thats why some dumb asses in american are preparing lke the world is ending. Hiper inflation is like ww2 no food or water breaks outs will happen and say if a bottle of water is 50p or 50 cent if a solar flair does happen the bottle of water will then become £15 or $20 only if Hiper inflation does happen but like 0.5% this will happen do a little research you will surprised what you find about the solar system.
solar wind only move around space and effect star movement and things like small solar flairs, you look lik 20 and am 14 AND I EVEN KNOW THAT:/