In recent times, the Sun has decided to show off, offering us shows worthy of a Hollywood premiere. Scientists confirm that we are experiencing solar maximum, the most intense phase of our star’s eleven-year cycle. An event that pushed the Northern Lights to color the skies of unthinkable places likeItalybut also India, the Bahamas, Florida and Türkiye, but not without some contraindications for our beloved technologies.
The solar cycle is like the mood of a slightly moody person: it alternates periods of flat calm with moments of real madness. Now we are in the midst of the “fire and flames” phase, with the Sun shooting coronal mass ejections And geomagnetic storms I can’t do any more. The result? Auroras with incredible colors, such as red, purple and shades that would make a Monet palette envious.
If you think that’s an exaggeration, know that this year a level 4 solar storm on a scale of 5 allowed many people to enjoy the show in very unusual places such as Europe, South Africa and even Jamaica. But don’t be fooled by these cosmic rainbows: when the Sun activates, its rays are certainly not caresses.
When enchantment becomes risk: technological impacts
You don’t need to be an expert in astrophysics to understand that such a restless Sun doesn’t just bring beautiful photos on Instagram. Our star has a dark side, and its storms can put a strain on technological infrastructures. During solar storms, in fact, charged particles coming from the Sun interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, creating interference in telecommunications and navigation systems. In May, a geomagnetic storm caused major problems with GPS systems, causing an estimated half-billion dollars in agricultural damage. In short: on the one hand we enjoy the colorful skies, on the other we cross our fingers hoping that the GPS doesn’t decide to take us in a completely different direction.
Second Lisa Uptonco-chair of the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel, we are only halfway through this solar maximum and expect the turbulent period to last at least another year. But let’s not claim victory too soon: if it is true that in the future the frequency of solar storms decrease, their intensity may not do the same. The NASA scientist Kelly Korreck warns that solar cycles are anything but predictable, and some of the most devastating storms have occurred just when it seemed the Sun had gone quiet.
Let’s keep our eyes on the sky, but also with an eye on the Earth. Because if on the one hand we have breathtaking auroras, on the other we have satellites, GPS and communications that wobble like a bicycle without wheels. And if solar maximum gives us more twists, let’s just hope that the Sun decides to be good… or at least leave us with some battery to continue looking at the sky with the right playlist in the background.