Vast swathes off the night sky burst into vibrant hues of green and purple in the UK and US on Friday after the region was hit by their first severe solar storm in 19 years, igniting the sky with the glow of the Northern Lights.
Reports poured in from places like West France, Tuscany, Liverpool, and parts of Scotland, where spectators were treated to this celestial spectacle
I captured the northern lights over Tuscany, Italy tonight. Unbelievable moment. pic.twitter.com/bXi1YcSjCn
— Shane Ware (@shanew21) May 11, 2024
GUYS THIS IS INSANE
IM AT MY PARENTS HOUSE IN THE NORTH WEST OF FRANCE
AND THERE ARE NORTHERN LIGHTS
HERE
THIS IS THE MOST INSANE AND BEAUTIFUL THING IVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIGE pic.twitter.com/2cGVI83QNy— Rine ⁷ (@rinee_rin) May 10, 2024
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon.
While northern lights, as the name suggests, are primarily visible in the Northern Hemisphere – namely Northern Ireland and England, during intense solar activity the the lights (also known as aurora borealis) are visible farther south in comparatively lower latitudes
Just WOW!!! #NorthernLights near Hexham in Northumberland. I’ve travelled to Iceland and never saw a show like this, just incredible..😍 pic.twitter.com/AfYbhsomSW
— ✋🏼HANDSOLO👀 (@_LFC_1972) May 11, 2024
“I’m 70 years old and I never dreamed in my life. I would see the northern lights,” wrote a person living in Arkansas (USA) on X, capturing the northern lights from the comfort of his home window.
This was literally just taken with my iPhone in Crawford county Arkansas. I am literally in tears. I’m 70 years old and I never dreamed in my life. I would see the northern lights that’s actually the lights from my house in those windows. I can’t believe this. Thank you God pic.twitter.com/IKoIsY7xnp
— USMC Lady Vet 🇺🇸 (@Arkypatriot) May 11, 2024
Meanwhile, another Florida resident expressed astonishment at witnessing the lights so far south.
Northern Lights RIGHT NOW over #KeyLargo Florida, this is insane to see the Aurora Borealis so far south ! pic.twitter.com/iBljm17x82
— Mike Theiss (@MikeTheiss) May 11, 2024
But there are also concerns about the intense solar storm potentially disrupting the power and communications across the regions.
What are solar storms?
According to NASA, Solar storms are generated when the sun ejects more solar flares or explosions from its surface, which disperses heavy energy particles.The flares release ionised radiation and when in contact with the Earth’s atmosphere create magnetic fields.
How are the northern lights formed?
The particles released during the solar storms bring in a wave of electrical charges towards the Earth’s atmosphere and when the high speed (three million miles per hour.) particles hit the upper atmosphere northern lights are formed across the Arctic Circle.
Geomagnetic storms are triggered by a series of solar storms, which in turn supercharge the northern lights. (NASA)
What are the impacts of the northern lights on Earth?
While the beauty of the spectacular northern lights is blinding, there are grave impacts of the electrical waves on communication arrays of electronic devices. NOAA advisory states, “Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations.”
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