Solar Storm 2016: Northern Lights Spectacle To Be Expected

A moderate geomagnetic storm is presently occurring around our planet Earth and is expected to create some bright aurora, also known as the Northern Lights, at a not-so-high latitude. The charged particles from the sun have created a strong geomagnetic storm across our planet which has the ability to disrupt power grids, satellites, and radio navigational systems.

As per a report published in IFL Science, the Aurora Forecast by the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks said that there will be a sufficient amount of auroral activity, with the Northern lights visible over the regions of Minneapolis, Oslo, Helsinki, and Saint Petersburg. The PJM Interconnection LLC (the biggest US power grid operator) and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator issued warnings to all the regions.

This eye-catching atmospheric phenomenon can be even visible low on the horizon in areas such as Chicago, Dublin, and Moscow. The aurorae are generally created by the interaction of the earth's magnetic field with the solar wind and thus, a stream of electrically charged particles is expelled by the sun. Once these particles are evicted, they are captured by the magnetic field of the earth and it hits the upper layers of the atmosphere near the poles.

The storms can cause voltage disruptions and trigger false alarms in few of the power system equipment. They can also create a draw on satellites in low-Earth orbits, forcing course corrections and disturbing the navigation and high-frequency radio signals. The stunning view can also be seen down the South such as the regions Illinois and Oregon. The interaction between the charged particles and the oxygen and nitrogen in the atmosphere generates photons. Photons are particles of light which shine brightly in different colors.

According to BloomBerg, the space weather center has alerted the people about a serious G3 storm level. Later on, they lowered it to a moderate level of G2.