Context:
Stable Aurora Red Arc Event captured at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve in Ladakh.
Auroras:
- Bright and colourful lights, formed due to an active interaction in Space between charged solar winds and the Earth’s magnetosphere.
- Usually seen in – High-latitude regions, namely the North and the South Pole
- When witnessed near the North they are called Aurora Borealis, while those in the South are called Aurora Australis
Why were auroras visible from Ladakh?
- Result of strong Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)
- Travelling at 700km/second, the Earth-bound CMEs reached the closest to the Earth’s atmosphere, disturbing the otherwise calm Space weather.
- Solar flares travelling at a speed of 815km/second were recorded when they hit the Earth.
- One of the manifestations of the solar storm’s interactions with the Earth’s atmosphere was the emergence of auroras in red, violet and blue colours.
- So strong were the storms that the aurora lights were visible from many lower-latitude regions.
- The auroras were also visible in parts of the US and the UK.
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth?
1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.
2. Tsunamis could occur at equatorial regions.
3. Power grids could be damaged.
4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.
7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
(b) 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only
(c) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Solar flares can temporarily alter the upper atmosphere creating disruptions. But it does not cause Tsunamis. It only affects the upper atmosphere. Statement 2 is incorrect.
There is no causal link between the solar flares and the deadly forest fires. Statement 5 is incorrect.
