Interesting Engineering reports that a new study found the aurora light phenomena is indeed happening more and more than previously thought, with previous instances pointing it could lead to the lights being seen all across the globe, a dangerous instance for society's modern technologies.
The report states that after an early November sighting of aurora borealis in remarkably low latitudes-as far south as Texas and Italy, places where the beautiful northern lights are not usually seen, a study reportedly found that a similar solar storm back in 1872 caused a similar happening, but at a larger scale.
Northern lights were reportedly seen not just in the polar areas but with over 700 sightings; the aurora lights were visible throughout the planet, including in locations near the equator like Bombay and Khartoum. The phenomena reportedly lit up the sky closer to the equator, down to around 20 degrees in the northern and southern hemispheres.
However, this came with a price after it significantly messed up telegraph communications. Modern Technology faced with the same solar storm could cause even more significant societal problems.
Global Northern Lights' Danger
This 1872 solar storm shows that a solar coronal mass ejection affects Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field, with it being capable of disrupting communication systems, such as satellites, compasses, aircraft, and power plants.
The study's lead author, Hisashi Hayakawa,, explains that the more extended society, particularly those in metropolitan areas, is forced to survive without power, the more difficult it will be. He adds that these storms may bring down satellites, aircraft, communication networks, and the electrical grid in the worst-case situation.
The lead author states that this development shows we can now confirm that in the past 200 years, at least three geomagnetic superstorms have occurred worldwide. The report adds that there have been three such super storms in just six decades, adding that a communications-dampening solar storm is a real cause for concern.
However, Hayakawa maintained that the rarity of powerful solar storms is rare and hasn't happened recently. But the risk remains for contemporary civilization when faced with a globally-viewable northern light caused by an extreme solar storm.
Vivid Northern Lights Due To Solar Maximum
A recent CTV report states that an increase in northern lights is expected as it could be attributed to what the scientists calle "solar maximum," or the sun's highest storm season in an 11-year cycle.
Every eleven years, the sun experiences a very high level of energy, producing several sunspots and a large amount of radiation discharge; due to this solar maximum, experts predict that over the next year or so, the public will witness more vivid northern lights.
