Why in the news?

In May 2024, Earth experienced the strongest solar storm in over two decades, popularly known as Gannon’s Storm.
A collaborative study using Aditya-L1 and six NASA satellites has explained the unusual behaviour and enhanced intensity of this storm.

What Are CMEs?

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs): Massive bubbles of charged gas and magnetic energy expelled from the Sun.
When directed towards Earth, CMEs can:
- Disturb the magnetosphere
- Disrupt satellites, communication networks, GPS
- Trigger geomagnetic storms affecting power grids

1. Collision of Two CMEs

2. Magnetic Reconnection Inside the CME

Magnetic fields inside one CME snapped and rejoined, creating new magnetic pathways. This internal breakup is called magnetic reconnection.
Consequences:
- Sudden reversal and strengthening of magnetic fields
- Enhanced geomagnetic impact on Earth
- Acceleration of charged particles detected by satellites

3. First Multi-Vantage Observation

4. Discovery of a Giant Reconnection Region

Aditya-L1’s precise magnetic field measurements showed:
- Reconnection region ≈ 1.3 million km across
- Nearly 100 times Earth’s diameter
First recorded instance of such a giant internal magnetic breakup within a CME.

If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth ? (2022)

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:

(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 & 7