Earth on alert as solar storm set to hit this week; may disrupt GPS, communications
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Washington: The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists have issued alerts for powerful solar and geomagnetic storms, which are expected to hit Earth this week. The storms are expected to cause auroras across parts of the United States, Canada and Europe. They might potentially cause temporary disruptions in communications and satellite systems.
The alerts were issued on Tuesday that stated several strong coronal mass ejections (CMEs), massive bursts of solar plasma and magnetic fields, have been observed over the past few days. The agency issued a “G4” geomagnetic storm watch, the second-highest level on a five-point scale, after detecting stronger-than-expected solar activity.
Shawn Dahl, a scientist at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, said two CMEs that erupted on November 9 and 10 had already reached Earth and were “profoundly stronger” than anticipated. A third, faster-moving CME that erupted on November 11 is expected to strike the planet by Wednesday afternoon (Eastern Time), he said.
The storms have already caused temporary radio blackouts across parts of Africa and Europe, according to Space.com.
The ongoing activity is linked to the solar maximum which is the peak of an 11-year solar cycle with intense magnetic activity and the current cycle is expected to last through the end of 2025, according to NOAA.
In May 2024, Earth experienced its strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades, across the US, the UK and parts of Europe.
This week, aurora sightings have already been reported or are expected over several US states including Illinois, Colorado, Washington, California, Oregon, Texas, Georgia, North Dakota, New York and North Carolina. Similar displays are anticipated in Canada, Ireland and northern parts of the UK, weather agencies said.
NOAA has warned that there will be temporary disruptions in GPS, radio communication and satellite operations could occur. Power grid operators and air traffic authorities have been alerted. Planned space launch may also be postponed as a precaution.
The NOAA said the auroras’ brightness and visibility depend on local light conditions and the timing of solar particles entering Earth’s atmosphere, advising skywatchers to move away from brightly lit areas for the best view.
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T20 WC star Samson named ICC Men's Player of the Month for March
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Dubai (PTI): India opener Sanju Samson was on Tuesday named ICC Men's Player of the Month for March, capping a stellar run that saw him play a defining role in the team's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign.
Samson did not get to play in the early part of the tournament but was the standout performer in the big games towards the end and helped India retain the title.
His latest honour also extends a unique streak, with players from different countries winning the award over the past five months including South Africa's Simon Harmer, Australia's Mitchell Starc, New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan.
"Winning the ICC Player of the Month award is an incredible feeling, especially as it comes during what has been the most unforgettable phase of my cricketing journey. Playing a part in India's triumph at the Men's T20 World Cup was truly a dream realised, and it took some time for the magnitude of that moment to fully sink in," Samson said.
"This is an exciting era for Indian cricket, with immense talent across the board. I feel grateful for the opportunities I've received, and for the trust and support from my team-mates and coaching staff that have allowed me to perform at my best."
Not a regular part of the playing XI in the initial stages of the tournament, Samson was eventually called up for India's must-win Super 8 fixtures. After starting off with 24 against Zimbabwe, he picked form and didn't look back.
The opener missed out on a century against the West Indies by just three runs, but his attacking 97 not out set up India's spot in the semifinal.
A blistering 89 against England at the Wankhede helped India to 253 for 7, and the target proved elusive for the English who missed out by seven runs on March 5.
An equally amazing 89 was churned out during India's successful title defence in Ahmedabad, securing a 96-run win.
In the three crucial T20Is he was a part of in March, Samson notched up 275 runs at an astonishing average of 137.50 and a stunning strike rate of 199.27.
This is the first time that Samson has secured an ICC Men's Player of the Month honour.
New Zealand captain Melie Kerr won the women's honour for the third time, after an outstanding series against Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Taking over the white-ball teams from Sophie Devine, Kerr's captaincy seemed to have brought out the best in her with both the ball and the bat. In the Zimbabwe ODI series, she managed to snap 16 wickets in just three matches, including her career-best figures of 7/34.
Additionally, she also contributed with the bat, being the third highest run-scorer in the ODIs, scoring 140 runs across three games with an average of 46.67 in the counting month.
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