Solar storm alert: What you need to know about the CME that could hit Earth today
A solar storm is a massive explosion of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona, which can affect the Earth’s magnetosphere and cause geomagnetic disturbances. These storms can disrupt satellite communications, power grids, navigation systems, and even harm astronauts in space.
One such storm is expected to hit the Earth tomorrow, according to NASA. The space agency reported that a magnetic filament erupted on the Sun on September 1, sending a coronal mass ejection (CME) towards our planet at a speed of about 900 km/s.
A CME is a large cloud of charged particles that can interact with the Earth’s magnetic field and trigger auroras, or northern and southern lights. These beautiful displays of light are caused by the collision of solar particles with atmospheric molecules, creating different colors depending on the altitude and composition of the air.
However, not all effects of a solar storm are benign. A strong CME can also cause geomagnetic storms, which are fluctuations in the Earth’s magnetic field that can induce electric currents in long conductors, such as power lines and pipelines. These currents can overload and damage transformers, leading to power outages and blackouts.
