Scientists warn that solar storms could intensify and become more frequent up to a year 2025when the Sun reaches the peak of its 11-year solar cycle.
According to a Harvard astrophysicistAlthough the Earth withstood last weekend’s recent solar storm without major damage, the space weather phenomenon could worsen significantly in the coming years.
The next ‘solar maximum’, expected in July 2025, could cause extreme geomagnetic conditions due to an increase in the number of sunspots and the magnitude of solar flares.
During the recent episode, the storm reached a level of “extreme geomagnetic conditions (G5)”, caused by a sunspot significantly larger than that observed during the 1859 Carrington event.
The latter, considered one of the most severe space weather events on record, caused fires on telegraph cables and significant disruptions to communications and navigation worldwide.
Currently, the solar surface shows noticeably less activity compared to what is expected for 2025.
The US National Space Weather Prediction Center estimates that by then, the number of sunspots could reach up to 115, in contrast to the absence of sunspots observed during the 2019 ‘solar minimum’.
How do sunspots affect the Earth?
Sunspots, areas of intense magnetic activity on the sun, They are capable of producing powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CME).
These phenomena can release large amounts of plasma and radiation that, when reaching Earth, have the potential to disrupt satellites, block radio communications and affect the electrical grid.
Although he increase in total solar radiation over the 11-year cycle is only 0.1%this increase is concentrated in sunspot activity.
Even before reaching the peak of the cycle, global satellite infrastructure is already facing challenges due to increased solar radiation.
Experts emphasize the importance of preparing for possible repercussions of these more powerful solar storms in the coming years, given the increasing strain on Earth’s technological and communications infrastructure.
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