Two solar storms are heading towards Earth as a fresh and massive sunspot emerges on the star’s southeastern limb. According to NASA, one “coronal mass ejection” occurred on July 2 and another occurred on July 4. They are now preparing to unleash a “one-two punch” on the Earth on July 7. According to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) occur when the Sun ejects a large amount of particles and magnetic energy from its corona. Strong magnetic fields shape the corona, the Sun’s outer atmosphere. These fields are sometimes closed, usually over sunspots. According to NASA, the limited solar atmosphere can abruptly and violently expel bubbles of gas and magnetic fields, known as CMEs.
There is a probability that auroras will be visible in places where they are normally visible
CMEs can include billions of tonnes of materials, which can be accelerated to millions of miles per hour. These solar material streams cut through the space between planets, impacting any planet or spacecraft in their path. Earlier this month, SpaceWeather.com reported on the emergence of a big sunspot. Based on helioseismic echoes from the Sun’s far side, there is a chance that this is the edge of a larger sunspot group that will rotate in our direction when the Sun rotates.
NOAA has issued a G1 Minor Storm Warning for July 7, 2023, predicting that a solar storm will crash with our planet at approximately 9.18 AM IST. G1 geomagnetic storms are the weakest type, and their impacts are likely to be minor for the most part. It may create modest fluctuations in the electricity system and have a minor influence on satellite operations. The storm may also have an impact on migrating animals. However, there is a probability that auroras will be visible in places where they are normally visible.