Massive Solar Storm Triggers Stunning Northern Lights Display Across US
A massive solar storm triggered ‘extreme’ levels of geomagnetic activity, leading to the Northern Lights being visible as far south as Florida. Aurora enthusiasts witnessed vibrant hues not seen in years, with the Space Weather Prediction Center reporting an ‘extreme’ event. While the mesmerizing auroras captivate onlookers, the broader implications of solar storms highlight the vulnerability of modern technology to space weather phenomena.
Solar Explosion Triggers Communication Disruptions on Earth
An explosion on the sun has caused a massive plume of energized particles to soar through space at a speed of 900,000mph, triggering blackouts in Australia and South Asia. Physicists have identified the explosion as an M-class flare, which can lead to small (R1) to moderate (R2) radio blackouts on the daylight side of the Earth. Strong M-class flares, such as the one observed on Monday, have the potential to launch a coronal mass ejection (CME), comprising large clouds of plasma and magnetic field that erupt from the sun.