NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory researchers detected a large hole in the sun’s atmosphere blowing a stream of solar winds, while observing coronal mass ejections (CMEs) powerful eruptions on the sun’s surface.
According to the Hindustan Times website, these solar winds are expected to reach planet Earth between March 23 and 24, and could cause another powerful solar storm.
The development was reported by Space Weather website, which noted a large hole in the sun’s atmosphere that spewed a stream of solar winds towards Earth.
This hole is known as a “coronal hole” – an area in the sun’s atmosphere which allows solar wind to escape.
Things could go wrong if there is any massive blast of solar wind coming in that day, as the resulting effect would be multiplied by the influence of the solar wind.
Solar winds to soon hit Earth
While solar winds hitting Earth are a very common occurrence, the timing makes this worrisome.
Since this wave of fast-moving solar wind is expected to hit Earth a few days after the vernal equinox, the Earth will be particularly vulnerable to it due to the cracks formed in its magnetosphere.
This will generally lead to a strong solar storm, worsened if any incoming CME collides with it – in this case, even a G2 or G3 solar storm is not out of the question.
Such powerful solar storms usually display intense aurora borealis and can destroy satellites.
It can also disrupt mobile phone networks and Internet services, cause power grid failures and corrupt sensitive terrestrial electronics.
