Few could overlook the snow and wind that recently battered Greater Victoria, but unless you were aboard a cross-continental flight, the effects of much greater storm this week likely went unnoticed.
Since Jan. 19, the Earth has been buffeted by a an extraterrestrial storm. Solar flares B次元官网网址� followed one-to-two days later by proton-rich particle clouds B次元官网网址� were strong enough to theoretically affect satellites and electronics once they collided with the planetB次元官网网址檚 magnetic field. Fortunately, the planet was not in the stormB次元官网网址檚 direct pathway. The most noticeable effect for earthlings was that airlines scheduled to fly across the Arctic took more southerly routes as a precaution.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a bunch of electrically active particles that come here from the sun and when they interact with anything electronic here on Earth B次元官网网址� GPS satellites or even power-generating facilities B次元官网网址� anything that uses electricity can be affected,B次元官网网址� said Dmitry Monin, astronomer for the National Research Council of Canada, on West Saanich Road.
A solar storm in 1989 caused a massive power grid failure in Quebec B次元官网网址� something that wasnB次元官网网址檛 expected during this latest event. The stormB次元官网网址檚 only flare was relatively average sized and came more or less in the direction of Earth on Sunday, Monin said.
Solar storms have been known to create visible aurora borealis outside of the usual northern regions. The natural phenomenon has been observed as far south as Mexico. Sky watchers in some northern latitudes were treated to a spectacular light show as a result of SundayB次元官网网址檚 flare, but people in Greater Victoria didnB次元官网网址檛 have much to see.
B次元官网网址淭his time it was a pretty big flare, but not big enough,B次元官网网址� he said.
The storm is a sign the sun is becoming more active as it nears the end of an 11-year cycle, which is likely to culminate in more flares B次元官网网址� and more chances to see the Northern Lights in Greater Victoria B次元官网网址� within the next three years.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like a humongous reactor generating a lot of energy, different types of radiation,B次元官网网址� Monin said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty normal. The sunB次元官网网址檚 been doing it for a few billion years. B次元官网网址e see more of it B次元官网网址� not because weB次元官网网址檙e approaching the end of the Mayan calendar, but just because of the next activity cycle.B次元官网网址�
nnorth@saanichnews.com
