Powerful solar storm approaching Earth today, likely to disrupt phone network and GPS signals

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• Jul 12, 2021 | moderator

A very powerful solar storm is approaching Earth at a speed of 1.6 kmph. It is likely to disrupt phone and GPS signals upon impact. This can cause interference and disruption in the mobile phone signal, satellite TV, GPS navigation. Experts have also said that some places may see blown-out transformers if the current in power lines is high.

NASA has said in a statement that the solar storm is moving towards earth at a speed of about 1.6 million kilometres per hour. There is a chance that its speed may increase further.

According to a report by Spaceweather.com, the storm originated from the Sun's atmosphere but full-fledged geomagnetic storms are unlikely. However, it could spark high-altitude auroras.

"THE SOLAR WIND IS COMING: Later today, a high-speed stream of solar wind is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. Flowing from an equatorial hole in the sun's atmosphere, wind speeds could top 500 km/s. Full-fledged geomagnetic storms are unlikely, but lesser geomagnetic unrest could spark high latitude auroras. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.", reads the post on the website.

The Space Weather Prediction Centre of the United States has predicted that the solar flare is likely to be centred on a sub-solar point on the sunlit side of Earth. Latest predictions say the powerful flare can cause communication disruption and wide-area blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for an hour or more.

Besides the communication infrastructure on Earth, the satellites in the upper atmosphere may also get affected by solar flares.