SPECTACULAR celestial light shows in skies are visible at high-latitude countries this weekend as the first “extreme” solar storm in 20 years slammed into Earth on Friday (May 10) while Thailand is well-protected by the Earth’s magnetic field so will have almost no impact, Thai Rath newspaper said this morning (May 11).
National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) said the US agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had on Friday issued a warning that a G4 solar storm had been detected but this was later upgraded to G5 – the highest level.
This may lead to disruption to satellites and power grids in polar zone countries but does not affect human health.
The Sun is a “living, breathing” ball of gas that is continuously active. And, like many of the Earth’s natural processes, the Sun’s activity is cyclical. This cycle is referred to by scientists as the “solar cycle.” This activity on the Sun’s surface – such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – can greatly enhance the total energy carried by the solar wind, as well as its speed. It also affects the intensity of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said.
While Earth’s magnetosphere deflects most solar activity carried by the solar wind, some charged particles seep through. These energetic particles cause magnetic disturbances, classified as either geomagnetic storms or substorms. These storms can be beautiful and benign, as when displayed in auroral light shows. However, they can also be devastating – causing damaging space weather.
The intensity of solar storms can be measured in a number of ways, from the Kp-Index to Geomagnetic G-scale. The former ranges from 0 to 9 and when it reaches Kp5, activity is said to have reached storm level. As measured on G-scale G1 is minor while G5 extreme.
However, solar storms may affect electronic equipment that may be sensitive to changes in the electric field, such as communication satellites orbiting the Earth, and may sometimes affect the global electricity grid. The G5 solar storm that occurred in 2003 caused temporary power outages in Sweden and damaged some transformers in South Africa.
Even so, satellites usually have measures to prevent solar storm impact, such as turning the direction or switching off equipment at risk of damage thus can well head off any interference to communications systems while power grids too have preventive measures in place.
For Thailand, due to its location near the equator,the country is well protected by the Earth’s magnetic field, so this solar storm will have almost no effect. Thai people living in high-latitude countries may be able to see the dazzling auroras this weekend.
CAPTIONS:
Top: In this long exposure photograph, a car drives past and illuminates poplars as the northern lights glow in the night sky above the village of Daillens, Switzerland, early Saturday, May 11, 2024. Photo: Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP and published by Yahoo!News
Insert:Northern lights appear in the night sky above the Brocken early Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Schierke, northern Germany. Photo: Matthias Bein/dpa via AP and published by Yahoo!News
First below:The aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, glow on the horizon at St. Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay on the North East coast, England, on May 10, 2024. Photo: AP/PA/Owen Humphreys and published by Yahoo!News
Second below: Northern lights or aurora borealis are seen over Margate, Kent, South East Britain (left) and London during a geomagnetic storm on May 11, 2024. Photos: AFP/Alice Dhuru, Rosanna Normanton and published by CNA
Third below:This image provided by NASA shows a solar flare, as seen in the bright flash in the lower right, captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory on May 9, 2024. A severe geomagnetic storm watch has been issued for Earth starting Friday and lasting all weekend – the first in nearly 20 years. Photo: NASA/SDO via AP and published by Yahoo!New
Front Page: This image courtesy of Ryan Prewitt shows the Northern lights or aurora borealis over Ohio, during a geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024. Photo: AFP/Ryan Prewitt and shared by CNA
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