A solar flare from the sun released a barrage of cosmic particles which Earth is in the way of. Researchers have warned the 1.62millon miles per hour storm could last for up to 24 hours, and is likely to cause explosions of light in the upper reaches of the northern hemisphere. Researchers warn cosmic particles are spewing from the sun is hitting Earth at an astonishing 450 kilometres per second.
Cosmic forecasting website Space Weather: “A solar wind stream is gently buffeting Earth’s magnetic field and causing intermittent auroras around the Arctic Circle.
“Geomagnetic unrest is likely to continue for another 24 hours as solar wind speeds top 450 km/s.”
While this solar storm is only considered ‘minor’, the consequences could be far more serious than the appearance of the northern or southern Lights.
For the most part, the Earth’s magnetic field protects humans from the barrage of radiation, but solar storms can affect satellite-based technology.
Solar winds can heat the Earth’s outer atmosphere, causing it to expand.
This can affect satellites in orbit, potentially leading to a lack of GPS navigation, mobile phone signal and satellite TV such as Sky.
Additionally, a surge of particles can lead to high currents in the magnetosphere, which can lead to higher than normal electricity in power lines, resulting in electrical transformers and power stations blow outs and a loss of power.
The higher amounts of radiation also leave people vulnerable to cancer.
The Met Office has warned that we will face a monumental solar storm in the future, which could knock out Britain’s technology and cost the UK almost £16billion in damages.
The country could be plunged into a blackout because it is not prepared enough for powerful solar storms, the Met Office told ministers.
The weather forecaster believes the UK does not have sufficient infrastructure to prepare ourselves for such an event.
A researcher for the Met Office said: “We find that for a one-in-100-year event, with no space weather forecasting capability, the gross domestic product loss to the United Kingdom could be as high as £15.9bn.
“With existing satellites nearing the end of their life, forecasting capability will decrease in coming years, so if no further investment takes place, critical infrastructure will become more vulnerable to space weather.”
