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Solar winds can reach the planet in a matter of days and eventually turn into a geomagnetic (solar) storm when they become entangled with the planet’s magnetic field.
When this happens, space forecasters warn of potential disruptions to the power grid and satellite operations.
The US Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) explained, “The interaction between the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetic field, and the influence of the underlying atmosphere and ionosphere, create various regions of fields, plasmas and currents inside the magnetosphere, like the plasmasphere. , annular current and radiation belts.
“The consequence is that the conditions inside the magnetosphere are very dynamic and create what we call ‘space weather’ which can affect technological systems and human activities. “
Anything above a KP index of four (KP = 4) has the potential to trigger a solar storm, with a KP = 5 event being considered a minor G1 event.
Even a minor storm can cause “small fluctuations in the power grid” and affect migrating animals and create beautiful auroras.
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