A massive solar storm is pummeling Earth – the largest such natural occurrence in months – and weather experts are warning: GPS navigation tools and power grids could see serious disruptions.
The storm started on Sunday, sending magnetic-laced plasma out of the sun's core, the Independent reported. And since, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has found several locations where U.S. nighttime skies are adorned with spectacular lights and auras.
Scott Kelly, a U.S. astronaut aboard the International Space Station, has passed along many of the beautiful images to NASA and NOAA officials, commenting in a tweet: "I've never seen this before – red #aurora. Spectacular!"
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The red color is a measure of intensity of solar activity, and signifies the highest level.
Beauty aside, NOAA officials are also pointing out the downside of such space activity: possible problems with power sources.
Solar storms are known to wreak havoc on communications and navigation systems, on power grids and on any other systems that feed off radio, the Independent reported. So far, there hasn't been any reports of significant damages from this current storm.
Still, the potential for national disaster has generated enough concern to reach the halls of Congress.
At a hearing in May, members of separate House subcommittees on national security and the interior heard from an expert who warned of the failure of America to prepare for an electromagnetic pulse, or EMP, of epic proportions. As WND previously reported, ignoring the dangers of solar storms could prove catastrophic to communities around the nation.
"Political gridlock in Washington is preventing the federal government from implementing any of the several cost-effective plans to protect the national grid," said EMP Task Force on National and Homeland Security executive director Peter Pry, during the hearing, WND reported.
He also said ignoring a solar storm could one day lead to "catastrophic consequences of a national blackout."
The Department of Homeland Security warned in late 2014 that 130 million or more Americans could be left without power for years, leaving them unable to heat and cool their homes, fuel their stoves, or access their computers and electronic devices. DHS also said in its 300-page study, reported on previously by WND, these same Americans would not be able to obtain fuel for transportation.
Solar storms stem from the sun's burst of gas and magnetic fields. The magnetic matter then travels across the solar system and hits Earth, with various levels of force.
NOAA space weather physicist Doug Biesecker said the current storm will probably last at least a day, perhaps longer, the Associated Press reported.