Earth could experience its strongest magnetic storm in up to two months following a powerful M7.0 solar flare on the Sun.
Researchers at the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy within the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported that the solar eruption produced an obvious ejection of plasma into space.
According to scientists at the institute, the front of the solar plasma cloud could pass below Earth rather than making a direct impact. Although solar eruptions have not yet reached the highest intensity level, researchers noted that the flare could still trigger the planet's most significant geomagnetic disturbance in one to two months.
Solar flares and geomagnetic classification
Solar flares are sudden explosions of energy on the surface of the Sun, caused by the snapping and reconnecting of intense magnetic field lines. Scientists measure solar flare intensity using a logarithmic scale divided into five primary categories: A, B, C, M, and X. Class A, B, and C flares represent minor solar activity, while M-class eruptions are moderate to strong events capable of causing brief radio blackouts in Earth's polar regions. X-class flares represent the most severe solar events.
When solar flares are accompanied by plasma ejections, billions of tons of charged solar particles travel through interplanetary space. If this material reaches Earth's magnetosphere, it induces geomagnetic storms. These disturbances can disrupt orbital satellite operations, global positioning system signals, and high-frequency radio communications, while also generating vibrant polar auroras in high-latitude regions.
Space weather research and health advice
The Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, based in Moscow, serves as the main research institution for space exploration, astrophysics, and solar astronomy in Russia. Its Laboratory of Solar Astronomy continuously monitors solar flares, magnetic field changes, and space weather phenomena affecting Earth.
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