Prepare for Solar Storms: NASA Warns of Upcoming Blackouts and Spectacular Northern Lights as the Sun ‘Wakes Up’

Our sun has recently become more active, which might lead to stronger solar storms. These storms can cause power blackouts and disrupt communications worldwide.

For about 20 years, NASA observed the sun growing quieter, but this changed in 2008. Scientists are still investigating this surprising shift. Since then, the sun has produced a stronger solar wind, which carries charged particles. It’s not just that these winds are faster; they’ve also grown denser, hotter, and more magnetic.

This heightened solar activity could lead to more intense solar storms. These storms occasionally strike Earth and can disrupt various systems. Geomagnetic storms may damage power grids, affect satellites, and cause issues with GPS. Interestingly, stronger storms could also allow more people to see the Northern Lights farther south than usual. However, increased solar activity poses risks to technology and infrastructure, which needs close monitoring.

It’s tough to predict exactly when and how strong these storms will be. Experts anticipate that solar activity will peak during the current 11-year cycle around 2025 or 2026. Jamie Jasinski from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory noted, “All signs were pointing to the sun going into a prolonged phase of low activity, so it was a surprise to see that trend reversed. The sun is slowly waking up.”

With this increased activity comes a rise in sunspots and solar flares. These can pump up pressure in the sun’s outer atmosphere, called the heliosphere. A stronger solar wind might shrink our magnetosphere, the protective magnetic shield around Earth, exposing us to more solar particles. This is particularly concerning for astronauts, who face higher radiation levels during missions, potentially leading to health problems.

Notably, when a severe geomagnetic storm struck recently, Elon Musk’s Starlink service was impacted, with over 50,000 reports of issues from users. Solar particles can also interfere with Earth’s upper atmosphere, which might affect ozone levels, resulting in more ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface.

The sun’s activity follows an 11-year cycle. After a weak cycle from 2008 to 2019, the current cycle is much more active. According to a study in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, this boost in solar activity may represent a longer, 22-year cycle, where the sun is compensating for its previous decline instead of settling into another quiet phase.

Since 2008, measurements show a six percent increase in solar wind speed, a 26 percent rise in density, a 29 percent jump in temperature, and a 45 percent increase in pressure. All of this makes for a more dynamic solar environment that interacts more intensely with Earth’s magnetic field.

Historically, the sun has experienced puzzling quiet periods before ramping back up. For example, from 1790 to 1830, one of the quietest spans was recorded, leaving scientists mystified about its causes. Jasinski emphasized, “We don’t really know why the sun went through a 40-year minimum starting in 1790. The longer-term trends are less predictable and are something we don’t completely understand yet.”

As we look ahead, understanding these solar changes is vital. They not only reveal insights into the sun itself but also help us prepare for potential impacts on our technology and daily lives.

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