Solar Storm Alert: Geomagnetic Storm to Hit Earth Soon Following New Year's Eve Solar Flare [SWPC]

A geomagnetic storm could hit Earth soon following the explosion of a powerful solar flare from the Sun on New Year's Eve. This is according to a recent solar storm alert issued by the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Under the solar storm alert issued on December 31, highly-energized particles from an X-5 class solar flare are expected to hit the sunlit side of Earth and trigger geomagnetic storms once our planet is hit. Once this happens, disruption to both radio communications and satellite signals is likely.

The said X-class solar storm is reportedly the strongest or 'largest solar flare' of the current Solar Cycle 25, which is expected to peak between January 2024 and October 2024. Increased solar activities also entail more frequent and stronger solar storms, including coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar flares.

Solar Storm Alert

(Photo : Image by PIRO from Pixabay)

After more than a week of no recording any solar storms from December 23, the SWPC detected an X-class solar flare on December 31 at 9:45 UTC, which will become the basis of the latest solar storm alert. The New Year's Eve solar flare was followed by the detection of a flare-associated electromagnetic burst.

While there was no mention by the center of a specific time and date as to when the flare will hit Earth, various reports state it will reach our planet at least from Tuesday, January 2. Similar to previous space weather events, the disruption of Earth's magnetosphere, often leads to geomagnetic storms and radio blackouts which after the frequencies of our radio signals.

Also Read: Solar Storm Alert: Geomagnetic Storm Likely to Hit Earth on Sunday

Geomagnetic Storm

The term "geomagnetic storm" or "geomagnetic storm" pertains to the disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere, which happens when energy particles from the Sun or solar wind shock wave hits this layer formed by the planet's magnetic fields.

In short, geomagnetic storms are major anomalies that occur when there is a "very efficient exchange of energy" from solar winds and into the space environment around Earth, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The magnetosphere, along with our atmosphere, protects us from cosmic rays and charged solar particles, even those that do not come from major solar storms.

Potential Internet Apocalypse in 2024

Deadly or exceptionally disruptive solar flares or CMEs have often been theorized by scientists and even space enthusiasts in the past since there is still no proof that a planet-killing solar storm once struck Earth, unlike asteroid strikes and other mass extinction-level natural disasters.

However, last year, scientists led by Professor Peter Becker of George Mason University reported that a solar superstorm could result in a potential internet apocalypse for weeks or months this 2024. It is unclear if this potential solar storm is linked with the peak of the Solar Cycle 25 mentioned earlier.

Yet, there are no official announcements from NASA regarding the imminent occurrence of an internet apocalypse nor the probability rate of a solar superstorm.

Related Article: Solar Storm Alert: SWPC Issues Warning for Powerful Geomagnetic Storm Hitting Earth Soon