The Sun, active as its new solar cycle becomes more and more violent, explode a Coronal Mass Ejection that is head towards Earth. The Center of Excellence in Space Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, estimates that a massive surge of energy and plasma will hit Earth on 31st March 2022.
Coronal mass ejection is one of the biggest eruptions from the Sun’s surface that can contain a billion tons of matter accelerate to many million miles/hour into space.
The solar material streams out through the interplanetary medium, impacting any planet or spacecraft in its path.
When a really strong CME blows past the Earth, it can damage the electronics in our satellites and disrupt radio communication networks on Earth.
The solar flares were release from the active regions 12975 and 12976 on the Sun on 28th March 2022.
Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India said that as these flares strike Earth’s magnetic field there is a possibility of coronal mass ejection induce moderate geomagnetic storms.
Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India Said :
“Intermittent satellite navigation and low-frequency radio navigation problems may occur, HF radio may be intermittent,”
Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India (CESSI) also flag new sunspots on the surface of the Sun that could produce more flares in the future.
Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India Said :
“AR12975 and AR12976 have magnetically connected and continue to be flagged as M/X class flare productive, with reasonable chances of producing an X class flare. AR 12978 is also now being flagged as flare positive,”.
A halo CME initiated on the Sun on 28 March. Our model fit indicates a very high probability of Earth impact on 31 March with speeds ranging between 496-607 km/s. Possibility of CME induced moderate geomagnetic storms exist.
— Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India (@cessi_iiserkol) March 29, 2022
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The US-based Space Weather Prediction Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also corroborate the observation and predict a G3 class strong geomagnetic storm to hit Earth on 31st March 2022.
As it warn that surface charging may occur on satellite components, drag may increase on low-Earth-orbit satellites, and corrections may be need for orientation problems.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Said :
“Intermittent satellite navigation and low-frequency radio navigation problems may occur, HF radio may be intermittent,”.
This is not the first time that a geomagnetic storm is set to hit Earth, the frequency of space weather events has increase as the Sun is now its new solar cycle ramping up activity.
The geomagnetic storm was the result of a coronal mass ejection from the Sun by an M1-class solar flare that lasted for about four hours.
31st March 2022 impact is likely to trigger auroras that could be observe at lower altitudes.
It could also have the power of affecting power grids and communication networks.
