(ORDO NEWS) — Since the beginning of 2023, there has been an unprecedented surge in solar activity.
While for the whole of 2022, scientists registered only 7 outbreaks of the highest X score (and in 2021 – only 3 in general), by the middle of this February, there were already 5 of them!
Another super-powerful outbreak, also classified as class X, occurred on March 3. It led to the fact that shortwave radio broadcasting disappeared in America for some time.
According to scientists, at the moment the increase in solar activity exceeds the predicted values by 20-30%.
It is possible that this solar cycle (the 25th in the entire history of observations) will be marked by extremely strong flares and powerful geomagnetic storms.
Echoes of explosions in the atmosphere of stars
In the last days of winter, a strong magnetic storm raged on the planet, lasting more than a day.
It began at about 22:00 on February 26 and subsided at about 6:00 am on February 28. In terms of intensity, this event did not set a record, nevertheless it is rated as one of the strongest in recent years.
The storm had a planetary character, and its cause was two large solar flares that occurred consecutively on the night of February 25 and on the night of February 26.
First, the echo of the explosion from the first flash came to the Earth, then, within a day, from the second.
The impact of this storm on human health and biological objects was limited, although it depended on individual sensitivity.
“Possible degradation of satellite communications and satellite navigation signals.
The lower limit of the aurora zone can drop to a latitude of 60 degrees, ”the scientists warned.
A solar flare is an explosive release of energy from the surface of the Sun, and strictly speaking, from its atmosphere, because stars also have it.
The flare is often accompanied by the ejection of matter from the solar corona – plasma. And if the light after it reaches the Earth in just 8.5 minutes, then the plasma clouds fly to us for two or three days.
And having flown, they begin to disturb the magnetic field of the planet, which affects the well-being of people and the operation of certain types of equipment.
The risk of strokes and heart attacks rises by 19%
It is noteworthy that science still does not have reliable data on the impact of solar activity and geomagnetic storms on human health, and the term “meteosensitivity” (“meteorological dependence”) is not recognized by physicians as a disease.
However, there have been studies that show a possible link between these cosmic phenomena and cardiovascular disease.
For example, Oxford University employees have been analyzing solar activity for 23 years and found that after powerful flares, the likelihood of strokes and heart attacks increases by 19%.
They also noticed that the risk of circulatory disorders in the brain increases by 27% and mental illnesses associated with increased levels of aggression and anxiety are exacerbated.
But the fact of the impact of solar activity on technology and some equipment is beyond doubt. Geomagnetic storms cause the Earth’s atmosphere to “swell” and become thicker.
Because of this, satellites and the ISS are slowed down, and in addition, charged particles of the solar wind are capable of putting orbital spacecraft out of action.
Ground equipment also suffers. In March 1989, one of the strongest geomagnetic storms in human history occurred.
Then, in the Canadian province of Quebec, the power system went out for 9 hours, high-frequency radio communications failed all over the world, and auroras (they indicate the excitation of the ionosphere – the upper part of the Earth’s atmosphere) were visible in Mexico and Crimea.
Finally, the disturbance of the planet’s magnetic field can affect the navigation and safety of ships and aircraft.
The fact is that the geolocation signal, heading from the satellite to the consumer (navigator of a sea or aircraft), crosses the ionosphere, and when it is excited, the signal scatters.
The error in navigation in this case can reach 100 meters. For aircraft in some situations (for example, in heavy fog), it can be fatal.
37 thousand outbreaks in 11 years
Scientists have long known that the activity of the Sun changes in cycles. Their duration is approximately 11 years.
On average, during one such cycle, the Earth experiences 600 magnetic storms. And on the Sun during these 11 years there are about 37 thousand flares.
“While the Sun is not yet at the maximum of its activity. After the beginning of the cycle, 4-5 years must pass for the number of sunspots (flares) to become the largest, then this process will again decline, the scientist says.
Flares on the surface of the Sun are a natural, constantly recurring phenomenon.
It is associated with the formation and decay of magnetic fields in its atmosphere, and the energy of the most powerful flash can be compared with the explosion of several million atomic bombs.
Scientists have been observing the Sun for a long time, and they are faced with this mystery: the most extreme phenomena on it occur during cycles that are rated below average in strength.
We cannot yet explain this paradox. Perhaps there are not enough statistics.
As Cycle 25 is just gaining momentum, we should expect more solar flares and geomagnetic storms in the coming years.
The next magnetic storms will strike at the end of March, on the 26th and 30th. And on April 2 there will be another one.
What these events will be is still unknown. And, of course, the Sun can make its own adjustments to this forecast.
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