Solar Storm Warning: Sun Might Release Big Flares, Boost Northern Lights Before Christmas

A solar storm warning has been issued, with experts predicting that at least two "big-flare players" may be launched from the Sun soon. Many sunspot clusters may be observed from Earth, according to space weather researcher Dr. Tamitha Skov. They were on "high alert" even though there were "no significant Earth-directed storms yet." The four primary components of solar activity are solar flares, coronal mass ejections, high-speed solar wind, and solar energetic particles. The term "solar storm" refers to the effects of these phenomena on Earth.

The CME that exploded from the sun at 6:36 a.m. EST on Monday is likely to hit Earth on Thursday, Space.com said. According to Spaceweather.com, it was caused by a massive M1.9-class solar flare that erupted from a sunspot known as Active Region 2908.

"The auroral oval is likely to be slightly enhanced at high latitudes from the 22nd to 24th due to coronal hole geomagnetic activity enhancement, and the chance of a weak coronal mass ejection arriving on the 23rd," the Met Office wrote on its website.

The sun has been particularly active in the last week, according to the European Space Agency's (ESA) Space Weather Network. The agency added that multiple active zones sprouted up on its scorching surface in the run-up to Christmas.

Solar Flares Explained

According to NASA, solar flares only affect the Earth when they occur on the side of the Sun that is facing us. Similarly, coronal mass ejections - the massive clouds of plasma and magnetic field expelled from the Sun - will only hit the Earth if the cloud blasted from the Sun is pointed in our direction. When it comes to high-speed solar wind, it only affects the Earth when it gets closer to the solar equator. Finally, any impact will be caused by solar energetic particles that follow magnetic field lines that meet the Earth.

"It looks like the pocket of fast solar wind from the small coronal hole is over-performing! We should enjoy a bit of aurora over the next few hours at least," Skov told Express.

Depending on their severity, solar storms can have a wide range of consequences on Earth. Geomagnetic storms are graded on a scale of G1 Minor to G5 Extreme by the US Space Weather Center. While minor storms can cause "weak power grid fluctuations," "impact on satellite operations," and "affect migratory animals," extreme storms can cause blackouts, widespread voltage control problems, grid system collapse, damage transformers, and make tracking satellites difficult, among other things.

According to a NASA blog, the Sun's magnetic cycle bursts into overdrive every 11 years. During the height of this cycle, known as solar maximum, the magnetic poles of the Sun flip. Greater sunspots, more energy, and solar particle explosions result from changes in the Sun's magnetic field.

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