Earth has been hit by cannibal CMEs as Sun reaches its maximum. Here's what will happen to our planet

The Sun is approaching itsmaximum which is leading to more solar flares and stronger geomagnetic storms hitting the Earth. In its 11-year-long cycle, the Sun reaches the peak of its activity which is called "approaching the maximum".

When it reaches the maximum, the Sun has more sunspots which releases more flares towards the Earth. These sunspots are comparatively colder regions on the surface of the Sun with especially intense magnetic field.

These extreme magnetic regions emit coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar flares. CMEs are huge waves of plasma (electrically charged particles) which are emitted by the Sun in interplanetary space at high speed.

Now Earth is to face a high-intensity geomagnetic storm because a cannibal CME, ejected from the Sun, has hit the planet.

According to the researchers, two CMEs were released by the Sun and quickly merged into one which struck our planet on July 27.

On July 28, a third CME was emitted by the Sun and slammed the Earth. The planet was hit by another one on July 29 as waves of plasma moved past Earth.

A sunspot known as AR 3764 released anX1.5 flare which further led to radio blackouts across half of the world. Meanwhile, the scientists recorded six other flares of weaker intensity (M-class) in the same region.

Here's what will happen to Earth after slamming by CMEs

The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center said that the Earth is likely to face astrong geomagnetic storm(G3 level). The storm which had embroiled the planet was classified as severe (G4) and later upgraded to extreme (G5) when it evolved.

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Scientists have now predicted that the storm will lead to auroras in the night sky across the Northern Hemisphere as well as northern California in the US and Central Germany in Europe.

The celestial event is likely to decorate the skies in the Southern Hemisphere, South Island of New Zealand, Tasmania and Victoria in mainland Australia.

(With inputs from agencies)