Analysis - A geomagnetic storm lit up the night sky in parts of the US during the first weekend in October. South Africa's National Space Agency (Sansa) told reporters that the storm had originated from a solar flare 'that erupted from sunspot 3842 on October 3'.
that the storm had originated from a solar flare"that erupted from sunspot 3842 on October 3". It said this was the strongest Earth-facing solar flare recorded by Sansa in the past seven years and that the eruption briefly affected high-frequency radio communications,"resulting in a total radio blackout over the Africa n region which lasted for up to 20 minutes".that occurs continuously deep within the Sun's core. This generates massive amounts of energy.
Geomagnetic storms occur fairly often. Minor ones happen multiple times per year. The severity of a storm depends on how strong the solar event was that caused it. Larger, more intense storms are less common but can happen every few years. Solar events are closely tied to the Sun's 11-year solar cycle, which has periods of high and low activity.
In aviation, geomagnetic storms can disrupt radio communication and GPS signals, which are vital for aircraft navigation. This is especially important for flights that pass near the polar regions, where the effects of geomagnetic storms are more pronounced. Astronauts and spacecraft are also at risk - the extra radiation can be dangerous for equipment and human health.Auroras are a visually stunning aspect of geomagnetic storms.
In space, satellites equipped with sensors monitor the Sun's activity and detect solar flares or coronal mass ejections before they reach Earth. This data feeds into prediction models used in space weather centres across the globe.
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