Environment

A large solar flare was observed this Wednesday. Scientists assume that this is the source of the severe geomagnetic storm that will hit Earth this weekend. 

This is a rare phenomenon that could disrupt many communication networks. On 8 May, the US space weather prediction centre (or NOAA) stated that "at least five coronal mass ejections aimed at Earth have been observed", which would cause an extreme geomagnetic storm, reaching level 4 in the coming days. "Further solar flares may cause geomagnetic storm conditions to persist throughout the weekend. This is an unusual event", NOAA said. 

According to US scientists, this is "the most powerful solar storm in 20 years". "This type of storm occurs after a major disturbance caused by strong interactions between the Earth's magnetic field and the Sun's magnetic field", Sudinfo reports. 

In a press release, NOAA warned that the storm could have serious consequences for infrastructure on Earth's surface and near-Earth. Communications, the power grid, radio and satellite operations and navigation could also be disrupted. 

The last solar storm of this intensity hit Earth in 2005 and the "peak intensity" lasted only about 15 minutes. 

(FVDV and AsD for Tagtik/Source: Sudinfo/Illustration: Unsplash)