Solar storm: understand the phenomenon that happens this weekend

One solar storm also known as geomagnetic storm, will take place this weekend, according to a statement issued by the United States government on Thursday (9).

The phenomenon can even negatively affect some modern technologies, including satellite and high-frequency radio communications, for example.

The statement warns of “at least five Earth-directed coronal mass ejections,” as well as sunspots covering an area 16 times larger than the Earth itself.

The radiation from the activity began to reach the Earth's magnetic field this Friday (10), continuing over the next few days.

But after all, what is a solar storm?

In short, the phenomenon happens when there is the release of energy from the sun that travels through space and eventually reaches Earth.

From the moment this radiation reaches the magnetic sphere around the planet, there are fluctuations in the ionosphere, that is, an upper layer of the atmosphere.

The effects on Earth

Although not all solar storms cause major impacts, those considered intense can affect communications operations, such as:

• Damage to satellites: These changes could affect satellites and other spacecraft in orbit, altering their orientation or potentially disabling their electronics;
• Radio broadcasts: Changes in the ionosphere can block or degrade radio transmissions trying to pass through the atmosphere to reach satellites. Furthermore, they can also prevent radio transmissions from being successfully reflected in the ionosphere.
• Electrical network: Severe space weather can compromise power grids, causing “widespread voltage control issues”, protection systems can also mistakenly trip important power grid assets.