A solar flare or solar storm that erupted from the Sun on July 14 is expected to hit Earth and disrupt radio and GPS signals on July 19, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
All about the solar storm
Experts have raised an alert that the solar flare headed towards Earth is likely to cause a powerful solar storm and lead to blackouts.
The phenomenon could put many parts of the world at a standstill. And it could be as early as July 19 , according to NASA.
A solar flare is a series of huge explosions from the surface of the sun which end up giving out bursts of electromagnetic radiation and intense heat.
Space weather expert Dr Tamitha Skov tweeted about the potential solar storm. She wrote,
“Direct Hit! A snake-like filament launched as a big #solarstorm while in the Earth-strike zone. NASA predicts an impact early July 19. Strong #aurora shows possible with this one, deep into mid-latitudes. Amateur #radio & #GPS users expect signal disruptions on Earth’s nightside.”
She added- “The long snake-like filament cartwheeled its way off the #Sun in a stunning ballet. The magnetic orientation of this Earth-directed #solarstorm is going to tough to predict. G2-level (possibly G3) conditions may occur if the magnetic field of this storm is oriented southward!”
The solar storm can lead to radio & GPS disruptions
The solar flare can lead to potential blackouts for radio and GPS users, Skoy mentioned. Solar flares are usually classified into levels based on their impact. This one is predicted to be of G-3 level which can’t cause major destruction. However, Dr. Tamitha Skov said that strong aurora or polar lights will also possibly be seen on Earth due to the solar storm.