The scientists believe that our planet is being bombarded by high-energy particles unleashed by the strongest solar storm since 2005. The charged particles are mostly a concern for satellites and astronauts. But they can also cause communication problems for aircraft that travelling near the poles. The geomagnetic storm has been caused by a potent flare that erupted from the Sun at 0400 GMT on Monday. From there, calculated that the effects are likely to be felt on Earth throughout Wednesday.
A more benign effect of the outpouring of particles is the ability to see "Northern lights" (ussually called 'Aurora'), farther south than is usually possible. US space agency NASA's spokesman said that flight surgeons and solar scientists have modelled the flare's predicted effects. Then, NASA decided the six astronauts on the International Space Station to not take any action to protect themselves from the incoming stream of particles.
A more benign effect of the outpouring of particles is the ability to see "Northern lights" (ussually called 'Aurora'), farther south than is usually possible. US space agency NASA's spokesman said that flight surgeons and solar scientists have modelled the flare's predicted effects. Then, NASA decided the six astronauts on the International Space Station to not take any action to protect themselves from the incoming stream of particles.
In theory, solar flares are caused by the sudden release of magnetic energy stored in the Sun's atmosphere. In an event called a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection), bursts of charged particles are released into space. Dr Lucie Green, a Solar Scientist, says the solar storms have meant people further south can see the Northern Lights.
Nasa's Goddard Space Weather Center predicted that the coronal mass ejection was moving at almost 2,200 km/s when it was due to reach Earth's magnetosphere - the magnetic envelope that surrounds our planet - on Tuesday at 1400 GMT (plus or minus 7 hours). This phenomenon can interfere our technology, such as electrical power grids, communications systems and satellites signals.
In 1972, a geomagnetic storm provoked by a solar flare knocked out long-distance telephone communication across the US state of Illinois. And in 1989, another storm plunged six million people into darkness across the Canadian province of Quebec. But a spokesman for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (Noaa) Space Weather Prediction Center said the effects of this solar eruption seem likely to be moderate. So, we can be relaxed...
Nasa's Goddard Space Weather Center predicted that the coronal mass ejection was moving at almost 2,200 km/s when it was due to reach Earth's magnetosphere - the magnetic envelope that surrounds our planet - on Tuesday at 1400 GMT (plus or minus 7 hours). This phenomenon can interfere our technology, such as electrical power grids, communications systems and satellites signals.
In 1972, a geomagnetic storm provoked by a solar flare knocked out long-distance telephone communication across the US state of Illinois. And in 1989, another storm plunged six million people into darkness across the Canadian province of Quebec. But a spokesman for the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (Noaa) Space Weather Prediction Center said the effects of this solar eruption seem likely to be moderate. So, we can be relaxed...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>> polymerize >>>
0 comments:
Post a Comment