Scientists warn that the next major geomagnetic storm that struck the Earth could have terrible consequences for the future of humanity. Our star is approaching the solar minimum period, but the threat of the formation of coronal holes in the stellar atmosphere still remains.
Coronal holes are monstrous “holes” in the tissue of the solar magnetic field, through which intense radiation erupts into space. When directed towards the Earth, such flows are called coronal mass ejections (CME). These powerful explosions of charged solar particles and radiation can destroy satellite systems, electrical networks and will cost millions of dollars to repair.
CME can be destructive to humans. Advanced technology is at stake, present in every aspect of modern life. The incandescent core of the solar system is approaching a period of relative calm, when a minimal amount of sunspots form on the surface. Every 11 years there comes a moment of minimum or maximum, where the number of spots decreases and increases.
A large solar storm can turn off satellites and GPS
However, the solar minimum may not affect the number of coronal holes. Analyzes show that during the minimum period, the development of long-lived coronal holes, whose period covers more than 6 months, is observed. The energy thrown out in this case creates wonderful auroras and strongly hits our magnetosphere. As a result, geomagnetic storms are formed, which affect not only artificial vehicles, but also astronauts and passengers of aircraft.
CME usually takes days to get to Earth, but there are instances of just a 20-hour delay after ejection from the Sun. The biggest storms send billion tons of solar plasma that hit our planet.
It is worth remembering the major geomagnetic storm of 1859. It was so powerful that it led to fires and the breakdown of telegraph lines. Another outbreak in 1989 left millions of people without electricity in Canada. Such storms are believed to attack the Earth every century. The modern planet is all shrouded in electrical networks, so it’s even scary to think what a catastrophe we are in danger of coming.
