Strong solar activity could affect Earth’s technological infrastructure, including electrical grids, satellites, pagers and cell phones, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Environment Center.
The geomagnetic storm produced by a major flare from a giant sunspot is expected to reach G-3 strength on the NOAA Space Weather Scales, meaning it will likely affect Earth’s power systems and spacecraft operations, including satellites. Forecasters predict the storm will reach Earth at 3 p.m. eastern time Friday and could last up to 18 hours.
The group said voltage corrections may be required on power systems, and false alarms on protection devices could be triggered. In addition, satellites may experience surface charging, drag may increase on low-Earth-orbit satellites and satellite orientations may need to be corrected. Problems could also occur with satellite navigation and low-frequency radio navigation, and high-frequency radio connections might be intermittent.
According to NOAA, an R-3 level flare from the same sunspot Oct. 19 caused a radio blackout.
NOAA is also monitoring another similarly active region on the sun. Forecasters warn eruptions are possible from both regions, and disruptions to Earth’s technological infrastructure are possible as the volatile regions rotate across the sun during the next two weeks.
