Solar Storm 2015 - A powerful solar storm, which started at around 10 a.m. ET today, is currently blasting the skies. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) space weather experts say that there is a better chance to see the geomagnetic storm as far as south as the mid-United States, along a line extending through Tennessee.
Weather permitting, NBC News said the stunning dancing green auroras can be seen as the Solar Storm 2015 could supercharge the northern lights.
Since the Solar Storm 2015 is in time with St. Patrick's Day celebration, we are sharing 5 interesting need-to-know facts about the geomagnetic storm.
1. The Solar Storm 2015 has been ranked as a G4 geomagnetic storm by NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, Space.com reveals.
As said by the NOAA space weather scientists during a press teleconference today, the G4 storm does not pose any risk to satellites or astronauts in space. However, it could affect GPS and the radio signals on Earth.
2. The geomagnetic storm is the result of two significant eruptions from the sun's corona that occurred early on Sunday, March 15, USA Today reports.
The two coronal mass ejections are huge explosions of super-hot solar plasma directed toward the Earth. While speeding through space, it created the large solar storm.
3. The electric power grid and the power supply to homes and businesses can also be disrupted by the Solar Storm 2015, as reported by Forbes. Fortunately, there have been no reports yet.
4. Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is caused when there is a coronal mass ejection. When the charged particles hit the atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere, it excites those atoms and causes them to light up. That's what creates the color.
To simplify the statement above, NYMag.com's Daily Intelligencer created an analogy.
"The aurora is sort of what happens when you look at a neon light on a business sign," it states. "We use electricity to light neon gas atoms in those tubes, and the excitement of those atoms creates that color."
5. Before sunrise, bright auroras were sighted over several northern-tier U.S. states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana, the Dakotas and Washington. More auroras could be visible tonight, possibly even as far south as the Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, Central Plains and Europe, Phys.org shares.
The Solar Storm 2015 is expected to last for 24 to 36 hours. Though when strong it can affect the power grid, the geomagnetic storm has one noticeable positive effect. The Washington Post said the impact of the particles with the upper atmosphere creates a beautiful and colorful sky show.
