Is there a danger of internet outage?: The most severe solar storm of recent years hits the Earth

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At 18:02 on Thursday, an extraordinary event occurred on our sun: an X-class explosion, the highest category! A huge amount of energy was scattered into space. It was the most violent eruption in six years.

A “coronal mass ejection” also occurred, according to NASA, in which charged particles were ejected from the sun into space. And this solar storm could now cause problems on Earth. Because these particles will hit the Earth’s magnetic field.

Just eight minutes after Thursday’s explosion, high-energy particles “bombarded” the Earth. They triggered a shortwave radio blackout over Central and South America. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called it “an astonishing event” and “probably one of the largest solar radioevents ever recorded.”

Interference with radio, satellite and internet is possible

The impacts are expected to be greatest on Sunday, as it takes about three days for the large mass of particles to reach Earth. Particles can cause interference with satellites, radio and internet connections, and can also disrupt rail traffic.

Despite their intensity, such solar storms do not directly harm health because the Earth’s atmosphere protects us. However, such storms are very disruptive to satellites, radio and electrical networks. Harsh space weather also poses a threat to space travel.

But the particles are likely to create a spectacle in the night sky: They’ll be seen as the northern lights.

Source : Blick