Scientists have created a theory of how geomagnetic storms could threaten life on Earth using data from the European Space Agency’s Cluster and Swarm mission.
Life on Earth depends on the bubbles created by its magnetic field, also known as the magnetosphere. It is a region that begins about 65,000 km from Earth during the day and can extend up to 6,000,000 km at night. Scientists recently discovered new truths about how geomagnetic storms create hell-type space weather from a scenario that could threaten all life on Earth using information from ESA’s Cluster and Swarm mission and measurements from Earth.
Geomagnetic storms can affect space weather
The Earth’s magnetosphere is formed by the interaction between the magnetic field and supersonic winds flowing from the Sun. These interactions are highly dynamic and consist of complex configurations of magnetic fields and electric current systems; Some solar conditions, such as space weather, can affect it. This solar condition drives high-energy particles and currents that interfere with space equipment such as satellites as well as terrestrial communications networks and power systems.
The European Space Agency’s triple Swarm satellites were launched in 2013 and are mostly used to measure magnetic signals generated by Earth as well as from the ionosphere and magnetosphere, and they provide various insights into space weather.
Scientists get a unique opportunity to dig deep into Earth’s magnetosphere because of these satellites and understand the dangers of space weather. Scitechdaily.com quotes Malcolm Dunlop, of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK, as saying: “Together with other measurements taken from the Earth’s surface, we can confirm that the disturbance of the intense magnetic field near Earth is associated with the arrival of the aggregate outflow. (exploding) a very fast moving ball of ionic fire) deep into space.”
A summary of the study was published in a research paper in Geophysical Research Letters.
In theory, charged particles can damage communication networks and navigation systems such as GPS and satellites. Also, these storms can affect the earth’s surface and underground, potentially causing widespread power outages. If geomagnetic storms are large enough, they can damage all communication systems on Earth. It’s kind of a circle. Once power is reached, it will disrupt the internet, which in turn will hit all communication systems on Earth, including even your humble smartphone – no power, no phone charging. In addition, it has been hypothesized that geomagnetic storms could also disrupt the global internet for months by completely disrupting the submarine cables that carry most of the world’s internet load. However, some areas of Earth may be more affected than others.
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