Powerful solar storm hits Earth, could disrupt communication and power grids
Washington DC: A powerful solar storm, the most potent in over two decades, has struck Earth, triggering stunning celestial displays from Tasmania to Britain and raising concerns about potential disruptions to satellites and power grids as it persists into the weekend.
The event, characterised by several coronal mass ejections (CMEs), began shortly after 1600 GMT, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Upgraded to an "extreme" geomagnetic storm, this marks the first such event since the "Halloween Storms" of October 2003, which caused blackouts in Sweden and damaged power infrastructure in South Africa. Additional CMEs are anticipated to impact the planet in the days ahead.
Social media platforms buzzed with users sharing images of auroras observed in northern Europe and Australasia.
"We've just woken the kids to go watch the Northern Lights in the back garden! Clearly visible with the naked eye," shared Iain Mansfield, a think tanker in Hertford, Britain.
Photographer Sean O' Riordan captured the phenomenon in Tasmania, posting, "Absolutely biblical skies in Tasmania at 4 am this morning. I'm leaving today and knew I could not pass up this opportunity."
Authorities have alerted satellite operators, airlines, and the power grid to take precautionary measures against potential disruptions due to fluctuations in Earth's magnetic field.
Unlike solar flares, which travel at the speed of light, CMEs move at a slower pace, averaging 800 kilometres (500 miles) per second. These eruptions originated from a massive sunspot cluster approximately 17 times wider than Earth, coinciding with the Sun's nearing peak activity within its 11-year cycle.
Professor Mathew Owens, specialising in space physics at the University of Reading, said that while the effects will primarily impact the planet's northern and southern latitudes, the extent of the impact will hinge on the storm's final intensity.
"Go outside tonight and look, would be my advice because if you see the aurora, it's quite a spectacular thing," Owens added, recommending the use of eclipse glasses for daytime observation of the sunspot cluster.
In the United States, areas such as Northern California and Alabama may witness the effects, according to officials.
NOAA's Brent Gordon encouraged the public to attempt capturing images of the night sky with phone cameras, even if auroras are not visible to the naked eye.
Concerns extend beyond disruptions to communication and power infrastructure. Fluctuating magnetic fields can induce currents in long wires, including power lines, potentially causing blackouts. Moreover, spacecraft are at risk of radiation exposure, though Earth's atmosphere provides protection. Additionally, biological compasses in species like pigeons could be affected.
The Carrington Event of September 1859, the most powerful geomagnetic storm on record, caused widespread disruption to telegraph systems due to excess currents, highlighting the potential risks associated with such solar phenomena.
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K’taka HC gives nod to ED to conduct probe in MUDA land scam case
Bengaluru: A division bench of the High Court has on Wednesday given a green signal to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam case.
The bench directed the ED to investigate other accused based on the statement of former MUDA Commissioner D.B. Natesh.
ED involvement in the MUDA case is likely to pose further trouble for CM Siddaramaiah, who has been named as accused No. 1 (A1), his wife Parvati (accused No. 2), and others in the case.
Earlier, a single-judge bench had dismissed a petition filed by Natesh seeking to quash the ED summons. He later appealed to the division bench challenging this decision.
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice K.V. Aravind refused to stay the single-judge bench’s order, allowing the ED probe to continue based on Natesh's statement.
Meanwhile, the ED has filed a petition in the Special Court for people’s representatives, seeking the rejection of the investigation report submitted by the Lokayukta police in the MUDA case.
In its eight-page complaint submitted on Tuesday, the ED asserted that there is sufficient evidence linking CM Siddaramaiah and his family to the alleged scam. The agency also accused the Lokayukta of making errors in its investigation while refusing to acknowledge them, urging the court to dismiss its report.
