A solar flare is expected to approach the Earth’s magnetic field on Sunday (June 5) or Monday (June 6) causing a geomagnetic solar storm.
Space experts have confirmed that there was a solar flare yesterday (June 2) that launched a solar flare known as a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space.
CMEs are huge expulsions of plasma from the outer layer of the sun – or corona – and can cause fluctuations in the electrical network.
A solar flare could hit the Earth in the coming days. Credit: Alamy
According to The Sun, meteorological experts said: “Yesterday, a magnetic filament from the sun exploded, launching a faint CME into space.
“NOAA forecasters say it could hit Earth ‘s magnetic field on June 5 or 6.
“Even weak CME strikes can cause geomagnetic storms, so there is a possibility of minor G1 class storms when CME arrives.”
Humans are usually protected from CMEs by the Earth’s magnetic field, but the most serious consequences of solar flares cannot always be stopped.
Fortunately, if this solar flare hit the Earth, we are only likely to see small fluctuations in the power grid and perhaps a minor deterioration in satellite communication, as it is only a “G1 class” storm.
According to SpaceWeather.com, solar storms that affect the earth are classified according to gravity, and the “G1 class” is at the bottom of the ranking.
Listing the possible effects of a G1 storm, the site notes: “Migratory animals are affected at this and higher levels; the aurora is commonly visible at high latitudes.”
Space experts have confirmed that there was an eruption in the sun yesterday. Credit: Alamy
At the other end of the spectrum is a G5 storm, which SpaceWeather considers “extreme.”
If a solar flare of this magnitude were to hit the Earth, we could expect “widespread voltage control problems” and “grid system shutdowns.”
Satellite navigation would also be “degraded for days” and low-frequency radio navigation would probably be out for hours.
All this increased amount of activity on the surface of the sun occurs during a time period of unprecedented space activity from Earth, which could massively affect the number of commercial satellites in Earth orbit more vulnerable to solar flares.
That exact scenario happened in February, when a massive geomagnetic storm dragged 40 newly launched SpaceX satellites out of orbit, The Independent reported at the time.
When it comes to avoiding future satellite losses, the best bet for spacecraft engineering companies is to control space-time in real time.
In April, the sun spit out the largest solar flare in years, with SpaceWeather reporting that the rogue sunspot AR2993 exploded twice rapidly on April 25, producing “a pair of superimposed M1 class solar flares.” .