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Space weather experts in Colorado, US issued a warning on a solar flare
It was the biggest eruption of the year and peaked 4.22pm GMT yesterday
It has already caused radio blackouts on Earth and a minor geomagnetic storm could occur tomorrow
This flare was emitted from Active Region 12297 (AR12297) on the sun
The first ‘significant’ solar flare of the year has been spotted by a Nasa observatory. The flare peaked at 12.22pm EDT (4.22pm GMT) yesterday and was watched by the orbiting Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). This flare was the most powerful of the year so far, and is predicted to cause a geomagnetic storm on Earth tomorrow following blackouts today.
SOLAR STORMS AND EARTH
Solar flares can damage satellites and have an enormous financial cost.
The charged particles can also threaten airlines by disturbing the Earth’s magnetic field.
Very large flares can even create currents within electricity grids and knock out energy supplies.
A positive aspect, from an aesthetic point of view, is that the auroras are enhanced.
Geomagnetic storms are more disruptive now than in the past because of our greater dependence on technical systems that can be affected by electric currents.