When THIS geomagnetic storm hit Earth, here is what it threatened to break

A geomagnetic storm just hit the Earth! NASA’s weather forecaster, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) has informed that a solar storm was generated by the Sun and it hit the Earth’s magnetic field on July 6. “G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storms are likely on 06 July due to a geoeffective coronal hole high-speed stream,” NOAA warned. Thankfully! This geomagnetic storm was a G1-class which is considered minor storm in nature. The geomagnetic storm on Earth was generated in the aftermath of a solar flare shot out from the surface of the Sun. But what is a Solar flare? Does it have any impact on Earth? What are geomagnetic storms really capable of doing? Know everything here.

What is a solar flare

A solar flare is a powerful and very serious eruption of electromagnetic radiation generated on the surface of the Sun. This sudden outbursts of electromagnetic energy travels at shocking speeds and can reach earth within hours. According to the NOAA researchers, this latest storm is a result from a “geoeffective coronal hole high-speed stream.” The coronal hole is basically a spot in the Sun’s atmosphere from which these solar particles are escaping, from where X-ray and ultraviolet images emerge. When a solar flare reaches the Earth and collides with the magnetic field here, it can generate geomagnetic storms.

What is a geomagnetic storm and what can it do on Earth?

NASA says, “A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth’s magnetosphere that occurs when there is a very efficient exchange of energy from the solar wind into the space environment surrounding Earth.” According to the experts, the latest solar event hasn’t affected humans on the Earth but is capable of causing minor disruptions to power grids as well as satellite operations. The energy unleashed from the solar flares can heat up and leave the satellites stricken. Some of the geomagnetic storms can cause radio blackouts. A really strong geomagnetic storm can even knock out the Internet and the mobile phone connectivity along with the electricity grid.

But there is something interesting too about the effects of a geomagnetic storm. It can generate auroras on the northern and southern poles of the Earth. All those dazzling colourful auroras are a result of electrically charged particles from the sun hitting the Earth’s atmosphere.