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Powerful solar storm heading towards Earth at speed of 1.6 million kmph, could disrupt cellphone signals

Times Now Digital

Besides the communication infrastructure on Earth, the satellites in the upper atmosphere may also get affected by solar flares.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • The Space Weather Prediction Centre of the United States has predicted that the solar flare is likely to be centered on a sub-solar point on the sunlit side of Earth
  • Latest predictions say the powerful flare can cause communication disruption and wide-area blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for an hour or more
  • A solar storm, in the simplest of definitions, is a disturbance on the Sun which can emanate outward across the heliosphere and affect an entire Solar System, including Earth

A powerful solar storm is approaching Earth at a speed of 1.6 million kmph. It is likely to disrupt phone and GPS signals upon impact.

The solar storm, which is expected to impact on Monday, can cause a major impact on the communication infrastructure.

According to a report by Spaceweather.com, the storm originated from the Sun’s atmosphere but full-fledged geomagnetic storms are unlikely. However, it could spark high-altitude auroras.

“THE SOLAR WIND IS COMING: Later today, a high-speed stream of solar wind is expected to hit Earth’s magnetic field. Flowing from an equatorial hole in the sun’s atmosphere, wind speeds could top 500 km/s. Full-fledged geomagnetic storms are unlikely, but lesser geomagnetic unrest could spark high latitude auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.”, reads the post on their website.

The Space Weather Prediction Centre of the United States has predicted that the solar flare is likely to be centered on a sub-solar point on the sunlit side of Earth.

Latest predictions say the powerful flare can cause communication disruption and wide-area blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for an hour or more.

NASA has said in a statement that the solar storm is moving towards earth at a speed of about 1.6 million kilometres per hour. There is a chance that its speed may increase further.\

Besides the communication infrastructure on Earth, the satellites in the upper atmosphere may also get affected by solar flares.

This can cause interference and disruption in the mobile phone signal, satellite TV, GPS navigation. Experts have also said that some places may see blown-out transformers if the current in power lines is high.

What is a Solar Storm/Geomagnetic storm?

A solar storm, in the simplest of definitions, is a disturbance on the Sun which can emanate outward across the heliosphere and affect an entire Solar System, including Earth.

A solar storm is also referred to as a geomagnetic storm that can cause a temporary disturbance of the Earth’s magnetosphere due to a solar wind shock wave.

What is a Solar flare?

A Solar flare is a large explosion in the Sun’s atmosphere, that is caused by tangling or reorganising of magnetic field lines near sunspots. A Solar flare is a large explosion in the Sun’s atmosphere, that is caused by tangling or reorganising of magnetic field lines near sunspots.

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