The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge (2024)

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm. Solar Dynamics Observatory hide caption

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Solar Dynamics Observatory

The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge (2)

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of solar flares early Saturday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm.

Solar Dynamics Observatory

Planet Earth is getting rocked by the biggest solar storm in decades – and the potential effects have those people in charge of power grids, communications systems and satellites on edge.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there have been measurable effects and impacts from the geomagnetic storm that has been visible as aurora across vast swathes of the Northern Hemisphere. So far though, NOAA has seen no reports of major damage.

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There has been some degradation and loss to communication systems that rely on high-frequency radio waves, NOAA told NPR, as well as some preliminary indications of irregularities in power systems.

"Simply put, the power grid operators have been busy since yesterday working to keep proper, regulated current flowing without disruption," said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Boulder, Co.-based Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA.

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NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005

NOAA Issues First Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Since 2005

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    The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge (4)

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"Satellite operators are also busy monitoring spacecraft health due to the S1-S2 storm taking place along with the severe-extreme geomagnetic storm that continues even now," Dahl added, saying some GPS systems have struggled to lock locations and offered incorrect positions.

NOAA's GOES-16 satellite captured a flare erupting occurred around 2 p.m. EDT on May 9, 2024.

NOAA YouTube

As NOAA had warned late Friday, the Earth has been experiencing a G5, or "Extreme," geomagnetic storm. It's the first G5 storm to hit the planet since 2003, when a similar event temporarily knocked out power in part of Sweden and damaged electrical transformers in South Africa.

The NOAA center predicted that this current storm could induce auroras visible as far south as Northern California and Alabama.

Extreme (G5) geomagnetic conditions have been observed! pic.twitter.com/qLsC8GbWus

— NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 10, 2024

Around the world on social media, posters put up photos of bright auroras visible in Russia, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and continental Europe. Some reported seeing the aurora as far south as Mallorca, Spain.

The source of the solar storm is a cluster of sunspots on the sun's surface that is 17 times the diameter of the Earth. The spots are filled with tangled magnetic fields that can act as slingshots, throwing huge quantities of charged particles towards our planet. These events, known as coronal mass ejections, become more common during the peak of the Sun's 11-year solar cycle.

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Usually, they miss the Earth, but this time, NOAA says several have headed directly toward our planet, and the agency predicted that several waves of flares will continue to slam into the Earth over the next few days.

While the storm has proven to be large, predicting the effects from such incidents can be difficult, Dahl said.

Shocking problems

The most disruptive solar storm ever recorded came in 1859. Known as the "Carrington Event," it generated shimmering auroras that were visible as far south as Mexico and Hawaii. It also fried telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America.

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While this geomagnetic storm will not be as strong, the world has grown more reliant on electronics and electrical systems. Depending on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines — those currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas.

my cat just experienced the aurora borealis, one of the world's most radiant natural phenomena... and she doesn't care pic.twitter.com/Ee74FpWHFm

— PJ (@kickthepj) May 10, 2024

The storm is also likely to disrupt the ionosphere, a section of Earth's atmosphere filled with charged particles. Some long-distance radio transmissions use the ionosphere to "bounce" signals around the globe, and those signals will likely be disrupted. The particles may also refract and otherwise scramble signals from the global positioning system, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with NOAA. Those effects can linger for a few days after the storm.

Like Dahl, Steenburgh said it's unclear just how bad the disruptions will be. While we are more dependent than ever on GPS, there are also more satellites in orbit. Moreover, the anomalies from the storm are constantly shifting through the ionosphere like ripples in a pool. "Outages, with any luck, should not be prolonged," Steenburgh said.

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The radiation from the storm could have other undesirable effects. At high altitudes, it could damage satellites, while at low altitudes, it's likely to increase atmospheric drag, causing some satellites to sink toward the Earth.

The changes to orbits wreak havoc, warns Tuija Pulkkinen, chair of the department of climate and space sciences at the University of Michigan. Since the last solar maximum, companies such as SpaceX have launched thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit. Those satellites will now see their orbits unexpectedly changed.

"There's a lot of companies that haven't seen these kind of space weather effects before," she says.

The International Space Station lies within Earth's magnetosphere, so its astronauts should be mostly protected, Steenburgh says.

In a statement, NASA said that astronauts would not take additional measures to protect themselves. "NASA completed a thorough analysis of recent space weather activity and determined it posed no risk to the crew aboard the International Space Station and no additional precautionary measures are needed," the agency said late Friday.

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England. Ian Forsyth/Getty Images hide caption

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Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge (8)

People visit St Mary's lighthouse in Whitley Bay to see the aurora borealis on Friday in Whitley Bay, England.

Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

Do look up

While this storm will undoubtedly keep satellite operators and utilities busy over the next few days, individuals don't really need to do much to get ready.

"As far as what the general public should be doing, hopefully they're not having to do anything," Dahl said. "Weather permitting, they may be visible again tonight." He advised that the largest problem could be a brief blackout, so keeping some flashlights and a radio handy might prove helpful.

I took these photos near Ranfurly in Central Otago, New Zealand. Anyone can use them please spread far and wide. :-) https://t.co/NUWpLiqY2S

— Dr Andrew Dickson reform/ACC (@AndrewDickson13) May 10, 2024

And don't forget to go outside and look up, adds Steenburgh. This event's aurora is visible much further south than usual.

A faint aurora can be detected by a modern cell phone camera, he adds, so even if you can't see it with your eyes, try taking a photo of the sky.

The aurora "is really the gift from space weather," he says.

The huge solar storm is keeping power grid and satellite operators on edge (2024)

FAQs

What NASA says about solar storm? ›

4, according to NASA Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation but cannot harm humans directly, impacting GPS and communication signals. The associated coronal mass ejection from Region 3697 is expected to enhance Earth's magnetic field, leading to potential geomagnetic storms.

How bad would a Carrington event be? ›

In the event of a Carrington-sized coronal mass ejection (CME), massive blackouts and power outages could occur, impacting critical infrastructure. Here's what you might face: Loss of water and wastewater systems. Spoilage of perishable foods and medications.

What is the massive solar storm in 2024? ›

A coronal aurora appeared over southwestern British Columbia on May 10, 2024. By one measure of geomagnetic storm strength, called the disturbance storm time index which dates back to 1957, this storm was similar to historic storms in 1958 and 2003.

How do solar storms affect the power grid? ›

Depending on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines — those currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas.

Could a solar storm wipe out the earth? ›

Dr. Wallace talks with EarthSky's founder Deborah Byrd about the many studies done – and steps taken – to protect Earth's power grids in the event of large solar flares and accompanying geomagnetic storms. Will these storms destroy modern civilization? No.

Will a solar storm hit Earth in 2025? ›

Scientist warns more powerful solar eruptions could hit Earth in 2025 - and cause the worst geomagnetic storm in 165 years.

Should I be worried about the solar storm? ›

A severe solar storm could cause malfunctions on satellites closer to Earth. In extreme cases, they might crash into other objects in space or the atmosphere. The undersea fiber optic cables that are the backbone of the global internet could also be at risk of outages lasting from a few minutes to several hours.

What could a massive solar storm do to the Earth? ›

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is warning that a series of solar flares will slam into the Earth over the next few hours and days, potentially disrupting communications and navigation, triggering power outages, and damaging satellites.

Can solar storms affect humans? ›

What impact do solar flares have on human activities? Solar flares produce high energy particles and radiation that are dangerous to living organisms. However, at the surface of the Earth we are well protected from the effects of solar flares and other solar activity by the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.

How to prepare for a 2024 solar storm? ›

For those who want to be prepared in case the solar storm impacts their area, the SWPC pointed to a FEMA list of recommendations: Build an emergency kit, much like one you'd use in case of a natural disaster. Freeze plastic containers with water to create ice packs. They can help keep food cool if you lose power.

Can a solar flare destroy all electronics? ›

Would a strong solar flare destroy all electronic systems on Earth? No. The question arises from confusing the slow electromagnetic pulse of a solar flare, with the extremely fast one of a nuclear explosion in Earth's upper atmosphere.

Will the solar storm knock out electricity? ›

As the Sun reaches the peak of its activity cycle, the odds of such a storm hitting Earth rise along with its associated risks, including blackouts, disabled satellites, and damaged cell phones and GPS networks. In the most extreme scenarios, some power grids could be knocked out for weeks or even months.

What would happen if a solar storm hit Earth today? ›

We all know that major storms can wreak havoc, flooding cities and decimating infrastructure. But there's an even bigger worry than wind and rain: space weather. If a massive solar storm hit us, our technology would be wiped out. The entire planet could go dark.

How does a solar storm affect the human body? ›

Solar storms aren't dangerous to humans on Earth's surface

These storms are awesome to contemplate, but they cannot harm our human bodies as long as we remain on the surface of Earth, where we're protected by Earth's blanket of atmosphere.

How serious is the solar storm? ›

Are such big solar storms dangerous? Major space weather disturbances are not directly dangerous to anyone on the surface of Earth because we are shielded by our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere.

What is happening to Sun in 2024? ›

First, a bit about what's going on. The Sun has been active all of 2024, spewing out flares and coronal mass ejections, which are clouds of charged particles. Things got extra hectic last week, when a huge and complicated cluster of sunspots unleashed several solar flares.

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