Space meteorologists announced this Tuesday that the northern lights will continue to be seen in less common places, as long as the strong solar storms that allow this phenomenon continue to occur.
Toward This year’s strong solar storms have caused bright auroras much further south than usualas in Portugal, filling the skies with shades of pink, purple, green and blue.
The sun is currently in the peak phase of its 11-year cycle, making solar ‘flares’ and northern lights more frequent, the Associated Press (AP) reported Tuesday.
This active period was expected to last at least another year, although it won’t be known when it will peak until months later, according to NASA and the US Ocean and Atmosphere Space Agency (NOAA).
This solar cycle has produced more colorful auroras further south and more are likely to appear, noted NASA’s Kelly Korreck.
“We can still have good shows in the coming months”the scientist assured.
These storms can also temporarily disrupt power and communications. Before a solar flare, NOAA warns power plant operators and orbiting spacecraft.
In May, NOAA issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning. HE The storm that hit Earth was the strongest in more than two decades and produced the northern lights across the northern hemisphere..
That same month, scientists recorded the Sun’s largest eruption, but Earth was out of the way.
Previous solar cycles have produced storms more intense than those in May, so space meteorologists are monitoring the Sun to prepare for any major disturbances, said NOAA’s Bill Murtagh.
Last week, a powerful solar storm dazzled sky watchers far from the Arctic Circle as auroras appeared in unexpected places, including Germany, the United Kingdom, New England and New York.
Source: Observadora
