Radio interference has been reported over parts of the US after the sun sent a powerful stream of high-energy particles towards Earth early Wednesday morning.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) showed that the disruptions are over the Midwest and eastern regions of the country around 10:36 a.m. ET.
NOAA also reported that the interference could affect radar, GPS and satellite communications.
DailyMail.com reported on Tuesday that the agency had forecast a 60 percent chance of radio outages, which are expected to last into the weekend.
Radio interference has been reported over parts of the US after the sun sent a powerful stream of high-energy particles towards Earth early Wednesday morning.
The sunspot that launched the stream is the same area that spawned the superstorm earlier this month.
The event would become one of the worst in history, prompting NOAA to issue a warning – the first of its kind since 2005.
The event disrupted GPS, power grids, agricultural equipment and satellites in orbit.
The spot, which is much colder than the Sun’s surrounding surface, has been moving away from Earth over the past two weeks but reappeared in view of our planet this week.
NOAA held a briefing earlier this month as the world was under a severe geomagnetic storm, which is a major disruption of Earth’s magnetosphere, and acknowledged that the sunspot will likely return for another round.
Solar activity was considered ‘moderate’ over the past 24 hours, releasing at least 21 solar flares, with two powerful ones launched in the early hours of Wednesday.
Solar activity over the past 24 hours is considered ‘moderate’, with at least 21 solar flares released, with two powerful ones launched in the early hours of Wednesday.
NOAA’s dashboard currently shows a 60 percent chance of radio black images for Wednesday through Friday, with a 10 percent chance of solar radiation storms.
Solar radiation storms form when large amounts of charged particles, protons and electrons, are accelerated by processes on or near the Sun.
When these processes occur, the satellite environment near Earth is flooded with high-energy particles.
The particles can interact with our planet’s magnetic field and atmosphere, causing disruptions to satellite communications, as well as radiation hazards for astronauts in space and interference with power grids.
Stunning auroras are also forecast this week, likely to be visible in the Northern Hemisphere.
The sun currently has eight active sunspots on its Earth-facing side.
NOAA reported that two regions, 3691 and 3697, could see higher-than-normal launches this week.