Following the eruption of an “active region” near the centre of the sun on September 10, the South African National Space Agency (Sansa) has cautioned that a solar flare, accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), is travelling towards earth at an estimated 1 493 km/s and is expected to impact the earth’s magnetic field today.
A CME is a massive cloud of high energy particles ejected from the surface of the sun when stored energy is suddenly released.
When the magnetic field of a CME interacts with the earth’s magnetic field, it causes a temporary disturbance known as a geomagnetic storm.
Sansa noted that the impact of a CME would not harm humans and other life forms on earth, as we were protected by the earth's magnetic field.
“However, it may disturb our satellite communication systems, such as global positioning system, radio communications, Internet, cellphones and satellite television. Moderate disturbances are expected at this stage,” it stated.
The agency, which noted that it would continuously monitor the CME, said its impact could spark a moderate geomagnetic storm between today and Sunday with an estimated Kp-value of six.