Washington [USA], May 13: AFP quoted an announcement from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that calculated that a solar storm had hit our planet late at night on May 10 (hours). VN).
SWPC determined that the intensity of this solar storm sometimes reached level G5, the strongest level on the measurement scale from G1 - G5 and also the strongest storm from the sun to hit the earth in more than 20 years. The most recent G5 level solar storm occurred in October 2003, causing power outages in Sweden and damaging transformer equipment in South Africa. Therefore, this agency warns that power grids around the world may be affected on a large scale in the latest storm.
"Some power grid systems may experience total collapse, causing power outages. Transformer stations may be damaged," CBS News quoted information from SWPC. In addition, radio transmission and satellite positioning activities are also likely to be disrupted.
Until yesterday, countries had not recorded any significant disruptions to power grids or telecommunications networks, despite initial concerns from country authorities. SWPC said it has only received some initial reports showing abnormalities in the power grid in some areas of the US, with a decline in high-frequency communications, GPS and possibly geolocation capabilities. satellite.
Billionaire Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX Company, which currently operates the Starlink satellite network providing broadband internet, said that the company's satellites are "experiencing intense pressure (from geomagnetic storms), but so far still persistently stand firm," Reuters reported.
However, the National Center for Space Weather (China) on the morning of May 11 issued a "red warning" with the content of a solar storm affecting communication and navigation activities almost throughout the country's territory. according to Xinhua News Agency. Auroras also appeared in the night sky in China 's northern territories .
Along with the latest solar storm, the aurora phenomenon occurred around the world, from the Mont Saint-Michel region on the French coast to Payette City (Idaho) in the western United States, and spread to the coastal states. Australia's Tasmanian island. The International Space Station (ISS) also faces the risk of exposure to high levels of toxic solar radiation.
Even birds that rely on a so-called "biological compass" like pigeons can be affected by solar storms. Breeders noted a significant decrease in the number of pigeons returning to their nests during storms raging around the world, according to NASA.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper