A solar storm — which occurs when solar wind shock waves, or clouds of magnetic fields, interact with the Earth’s own magnetic field — is on its way toward Earth on Sunday. Credit: NASAA solar storm — which occurs when solar wind shock waves or clouds of magnetic field interact with the Earth’s own magnetic field — may be on its way toward Earth on Sunday.
The storm, which could emit solar flares that have the energy equivalent to nuclear bombs, is expected to hit late Sunday and early Monday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Compared to other solar storms, Monday’s will be relatively weak.
Solar storm to hit Earth, may cause GPS disturbances
Such cyclical events are in the normal pattern for our Sun, which periodically emits huge flaming fingers of plasma into space. Experts say that there will be more such occurrences in the upcoming years, with solar winds causing disruptions to our magnetic fields and the upper atmosphere on Earth to follow.
The solar storm, which doesn’t pose any danger to living things, however, may cause disturbances in satellites. In early February, a solar storm destroyed 40 of the 49 Starlink satellites that Elon Musk’s company had just SpaceX launched into space.
