Brits could be in for a double-edged sword this New Year’s Eve as magnificent Northern Lights displays are possibly paired with communication disruptions due to intense solar flares, in what experts are calling a “once in a decade” event. The increased visibility of the awe-inspiring Aurora Borealis comes courtesy of powerful solar emissions, with NASA confirming two significant flares, classes X1.5 and X1.1, were detected on Sunday.
While this astronomical event offers an opportunity to witness the spectacular Northern Lights tonight, it might also cause interruptions in the following days. The sun is currently at its ‘solar maximum’, indicating the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, which can result in more frequent and potent flares.
This activity promises breathtaking views of the Northern Lights even at lower latitudes, continuing into January. However, NASA has issued warnings that these solar outbursts can disrupt radio signals and electrical grids, stating: “Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.”
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Adding to the discussion, solar astrophysicist Ryan French, mentioned on social media: “The sun has really stepped up over the past few days, with frequent solar flares including a strong X-class event! ” He also confirmed: “A selection of these flares produced Earth-directed eruptions, expected to trigger a strong geomagnetic storm (bringing aurora) on the 31st! “.
As the current period of solar activity draws to a close, we can anticipate a decrease in solar activity until it reaches a “solar minimum”, during which sightings of the Northern Lights become much less frequent. This means that people should make the most of the spectacular light shows in the New Year while they still can, as they may become less common over the next decade or so, reports the Mirror.
Jamie Favors, director of the Space Weather Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington, explained: “During solar maximum, the number of sunspots, and therefore, the amount of solar activity, increases. This increase in activity provides an exciting opportunity to learn about our closest star – but also causes real effects at Earth and throughout our solar system.”
For the best viewing experience, the north of Scotland remains the top spot, with the Shetland Islands considered the prime location for viewing the Northern Lights in the UK. Krista Hammond, Space Weather Manager at the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre (MOSWOC), stated that it is “not possible to know exactly when the number of sunspots peaked until some time after it has happened”.
She added: “While it’s not possible to know precisely what this means for individual Earth-directed solar events, it does mean there will likely be further chances of aurora visibility in the UK in the coming months.”
The awe-inspiring colours that light up the night sky are due to coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These occur when solar particles enter Earth’s atmosphere, typically consisting of nitrogen and other gases.
As these particles burn up in the atmosphere, they emit the vibrant and radiant lights we know as the aurora borealis.