The sunspot is currently facing away from Earth, but as our planet orbits around our host star, it could line up with us. According to cosmic forecaster, the sunspot could release solar flares which are 100 million times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in World War II. Sunspots are patches of darkness on the Sun which are caused by underlying magnetism beneath the surface.
However, sometimes that magnetism bubbles up and is released in the form of solar flares, which spew cosmic particles into space.
While holes like this are common, researchers have described the impending one as a “big one”.
Website Space Weather warned: “Big sunspot AR2738 is crackling with minor B-class solar flares. Minor? On the sun, it’s all relative.
“A typical B-class solar flare releases as much energy as 100 million WWII atomic bombs.
“Only on the sun, which is itself a 1027 ton self-contained nuclear explosion, would such a blast be considered puny.”
As the solar flare could be relatively small, it will not pose much danger to us, however, strong northern lights over the Arctic circle will be likely.
Auroras, which include northern lights – aurora borealis – and southern lights – aurora australis, are caused when solar particles hit the atmosphere.
As the magnetosphere gets bombarded by solar winds, stunning blue lights can appear as that layer of the atmosphere deflects the particles.
For the most part, the Earth’s magnetic field protects humans from the barrage of radiation, but solar storms can affect satellite-based technology.
Solar winds can heat the Earth’s outer atmosphere, causing it to expand.
This can affect satellites in orbit, potentially leading to a lack of GPS navigation, mobile phone signal and satellite TV such as Sky.
Additionally, a surge of particles can lead to high currents in the magnetosphere, which can lead to higher than normal electricity in power lines, resulting in electrical transformers and power stations blow outs and a loss of power.
The higher amounts of radiation also leave people vulnerable to cancer.
Source: Read Full Article