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Radio blackouts reported across the world after 'tsunami' of solar storms make impact - and NOAA warns more disturbances are to come
Radio blackouts caused by a 'tsunami' of solar storms were reported across the globe on Thursday, and scientists say more disruptions are are on the way.
The sun released at least 15 streams of plasma, or coronal mass ejections (CMEs), in the last 24 hours that caused communications disturbances over parts of Africa and Asia when they impacted Earth.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) trackers shows the disturbances are moving toward the US.
This type of solar activity can cause issues with satellite operations in space, aviation and maritime communications and disrupt GPS.
Parts of Africa and Asia have experienced disturbances, and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) tracker shows the 'noise' from the storm is moving west toward the US
NOAA also noted that radio blackouts are likely to continue until at least August 4, which would likely impact radios, aviation and marine communications and satellite operations.
The storms are predicted to bring auroras as to many northern states, including New York.
The sun has been experiencing high levels of activity in the last week as there are 12 active sunspots, cooler parts on the sun's surface caused by massive changes in our star's magnetic field, which are Earth-facing.
Space weather experts have said the recent activity is a 'tsunami of solar storms.'
Often bigger than planets, sunspots appear dark on the sun's surface because they are cooler than other parts (although they're still very hot, around 6,500F).
The magnetic field lines near sunspots often tangle, cross, and reorganize. This can cause an explosion of energy called a solar flare.
Active region AR3774 was the lead flare producer with nine streams of energized particles since Wednesday.
NOAA shows that another stream of plasma is set to hit Earth, which will likely spark a geomagnetic storm, a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere that impacts satellite orbits and triggers radio blackouts.
'Solar activity was elevated through the weekend and various events, including solar flares and filament eruptions, were associated with CMEs,' NOAA shared on its website.
The sun released at least 15 streams of plasma, or coronal mass ejections (CMEs), in the last 24 hours that have impacted Earth
The sun has been experiencing high levels of activity in the last week as there are 12 active sunspots, cooler parts on the sun's surface caused by massive changes in our star's magnetic field, which are Earth-facing
'Some of these CMEs were determined to have Earth-directed components.
'R1-R2 (Minor - Moderate) level solar flares continue to be expected into the weekend (1 - 4 August). There is also a continuing chance for an R3 (Strong) event.'
The R scale is in reference to 'Radio Blackouts,' with a '1' meaning minor that typically sees weak or minor degradation of HF radio communication on sunlit side, occasional loss of radio contact.
And '2' means limited blackout of HF radio communication on the sunlit side, and loss of radio contact for tens of minutes.
NOAA reported that the nations hit by disturbances on Thursday were R-2.
Those regions included Taiwan, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Bangladesh and over western Africa.
NOAA has advised that, in the next 24 hours, there is a 75 percent of M-class flares that generally cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth's polar regions, and a 25 percent likelihood of X flares that trigger radio blackouts all around the world.
But there is a positive side to the solar activity as it could bring stunning auroras to some US states, including Montana, Minnesota and North Dakota.
In late July, NASA captured a dark plasma eruption on the sun.