Scientists Warn of Likely Impacts of Solar Flares from Sun Storm
Scientists reported that solar flares generated by a huge storm in the sun will reach Earth by Thursday, with high possibilities that the electrically charged particles they bring would cause serious technological disturbances.
Highly vulnerable to incur damages in such events were power grids, commercial aviation flights and the global positioning systems (GPS) currently in use, according to U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientist Joe Kunches.
Speaking from Washington, Kunches told the Associated Press (AP) that chaos could definitely characterise the immediate aftermath of the flare's arrival if experts' assessment would be exceeded.
Worst scenarios would be widespread power outages, which have been seen in prior episodes of solar flares blanketing specific regions of the planet, and communication disruptions.
"It's hitting us right in the nose," Mr Kunches told AP.
Initial flares, which experts estimated to be travelling at a speed of four million mph, should reach Earth's surface by Thursday between 0600 GMT and 1000 GMT (plus 10 hours for Sydney or 11 hours in Daylight Saving Time mode), as reported by the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Centre.
The effects of the flares could become visible via the natural phenomenon known as the Northern Aurora lights, scientists said.
But behind the stunning spectacle of the Aurora, Mr Kunches noted that distress could come next as GPS could be rendered useless by the flares while communications could prove difficult in the immediate hours of the flares touching down.
However, the latest solar storm that scientists said was so far the largest seen over the last five years can be characterised as "a good-size event, but not the extreme type," according to Bill Murtagh of the Space Weather Prediction Centre.
The storm was observed to have erupted Tuesday night, Mr Kunches said, and is expected to start dying out by Friday, with flickers of what transpired to be seen in the few days ahead.
NASA solar physicist Alex Young added that the new disturbance in the sun was not expected by experts to develop into a super solar storm, allaying fears of far-reaching impacts on Earth.
But Mr Young conceded that notable effects would be felt by Earth.
"It could give us a bit of a jolt," the scientist told AP.
Expected radiation that comes with the flares was not seen as affecting the astronauts currently stationed at the International Space Station, according to NASA, but the U.S. space agency admitted that satellites hovering around the Earth could be affected.
Also, airlines have been advised on the likely effects of radiation that would flood the north and south poles, Mr Kunches said, so they can implement reroutes on their respective commercial flights.