New York’s sky likely to dazzle with northern lights due to geomagnetic storm

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Centre, amid escalated solar activity, has issued an alert for the geomagnetic storm on July 24 which is likely to fill New York's skies with aurora borealis.

According to the researchers, a plume of magnetic field and plasma called coronal mass ejection (CME) had been released from our Sun on July 21 and is now strongly coming towards Earth. It is likely to reach our planet on July 24.

Here's how solar storm forms northern lights

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The CMEs are filled with electrically charged atoms called ions and when these collide with the magnetosphere of Earth they trigger geomagnetic storms.

Amid the geomagnetic storms, the ions collide with the gases in the atmosphere of the Earth which releases energy in the form of light which is called northern lightsor aurora borealis. This phenomenon is common in the Northern Hemisphere or Southern Hemisphere, however, it is rare to see them sparkle in New York.

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NOAA has classified geomagnetic storms using a G-scale for measuring the intensity of geomagnetic storms.

The range varies from G5 to G1 - G5 referring to major class storms and G1 referring to minor class storms.

NOAA has issued a recent geomagnetic storm watch which has been classified as a G2-class.

How will geomagnetic storms affect Earth?

The nature of the space weather is fickle in nature like the weather on Earth. Geomagnetic storm warnings are usual and sometimes they even fizzle out.

CMEs have the capability to create havoc in the technological world and pose a threat to both astronauts and satellites inlow Earth orbit.

CMEs can lead to surges in electrical currents which eventually results in overloaded power grids and causes blackouts on Earth.

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They can also enter the magnetic field of Earth and disrupt radio transmissions while increasing radio static in the ionosphere of Earth.

The high-energy particles from the CME are able to damage satellites in low-Earth orbit in space.

CMEs can also warm the atmosphere of Earth and create a thicker medium through which the satellites have to travel.

(With inputs from agencies)