Solar Storm

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Science & Technology

Why in News?

India’s Aditya-L1, along with 6 U.S. satellites has revealed why the May 2024 solar storm also known as Gannon’s storm behaved so unusually.

The 6 U.S. satellites are NASA’s Wind, ACE, THEMIS-C, STEREO-A, MMS, and NASA-NOAA joint mission DSCOVR.

• Solar Storm – It is a sudden explosion of particles, energy, magnetic fields, and material blasted into the solar system by the Sun.
• Causes – The Sun’s magnetic fields get twisted, like messy hair.
• Because the Sun’s equator spins faster than its poles, the fields twist even more.
• When they get too stretched, they snap and reconnect (called magnetic reconnection), releasing huge bursts of energy — this is how solar storms start.
• Induce any or all the events – solar flare (bright flash of light), radiation storm (flurry of solar particles propelled into space at high speeds) and coronal mass ejection.
• Effects – Solar storms can shake up Earth’s magnetic field, causing geomagnetic storms.
• It may lead to radio blackouts, power cuts, and bright auroras in the sky.
• But they don’t directly harm people because Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere protect us.

Quick Fact

To know about Aditya L1, click here

References

1. The Hindu | Global effort reveals why the 2024 solar storm unusual
2. NASA | Solar Strom