Solar storm could lead to disruption of communication services

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Commission (SUPARCO) has issued an urgent warning regarding a significant solar storm currently surrounding Earth.

This solar storm, driven by three Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) from the Sun, poses serious risks to satellites, power grids, and space stations.

The first two CMEs, classified as M-class solar flares, were relatively minor and launched on August 7. However, the third, an X1.3-class flare, is far more powerful and potentially the worst one, is expected to hit the planet this week on August 11.

The Institute of Space Technology in Islamabad has released detailed images capturing the intense activity on the Sun’s surface.

Experts expect the effects of the solar storm, including plasma and magnetic waves, to impact Earth over the next few days.

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This storm — ranked 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 — poses a risk for high-voltage transmission lines for power grids, not the electrical lines ordinarily found in people’s homes. Satellites also could be affected, which in turn could disrupt navigation and communication services here on Earth.

These geomagnetic storms can cause radio blackouts, disable satellites, and disrupt cellular and GPS networks, highlighting the critical need for preparedness in facing such space weather events.

WHAT ARE SOLAR STORMS

Solar flares are eruptions from the sun’s surface that release intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation. These flares occur when the magnetic energy accumulated in the solar atmosphere is suddenly released. 

The radiation from solar flares reaches Earth at the speed of light, ionizing the upper atmosphere upon arrival. This ionization creates a denser environment for high-frequency shortwave radio signals that facilitate long-distance communication. However, as these radio waves interact with electrons in the ionized layers, they lose energy due to increased collisions, which can degrade or entirely absorb the radio signals.