A powerful solar flare created a blackout over the Atlantic recently. Now a massive solar storm is headed towards Earth. It is likely to hit the planet on Tuesday and Wednesday. The solar flare that is moving at a speed of 1.6 million kilometres per hour is expected to hit Earth’s magnetic field.
The massive solar flare is expected to hit satellites operating in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. According to Spaceweather.com, the storm is capable of disrupting GPS navigation, mobile phone signals, and satellite TV. Wind speeds could top 600 km/s. The massive solar flare is also expected to hit satellites operating in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Experts fear that the strong winds may trigger a geomagnetic storm in Earth’s magnetosphere.
Those residing in higher latitudes may get to witness spectacular aurora activity. Solar storms, loaded with charged particles, interact with the earth’s magnetic fields to produce celestial displays in the night skies.
What Is a Solar Flare?
A solar flare is a sudden, rapid, and intense explosion on the surface of the Sun. It happens when massive amounts of energy stored in magnetic fields are suddenly released. The explosion emits radiation across the length and breadth of the universe, hurtling them towards planets in the solar system. These radiations contain radio waves, x-rays and gamma rays.
NASA classifies the biggest flares as X-class flares. The flares are classified according to their strength, with the smallest ones being classified as A-class. This is followed by B-class, C-class, M-class, and X-class.
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