--- title: "Eruption From the Sun May Affect Power Grid, Scientists Say" description: "A massive solar storm is bombarding the Earth with so much radiation and at such a force, it could end up interfering with power grids." date: "2021-11-04" modified: "2021-11-04" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/eruption-sun-power-grid" categories: - "Science & Energy" tags: - "NOAA" - "solar radiation" - "solar storm" - "the digest" --- # Eruption From the Sun May Affect Power Grid, Scientists Say ![A massive solar storm is bombarding the Earth with so much radiation and at such a force, it could end up interfering with power grids.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Big Storm A massive solar storm is bombarding the Earth with so much radiation that it could interfere with power grids. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), which is run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has warned in [a Thursday statement]() that the storm could cause possible "power system voltage irregularities." Spacecraft could also "experience surface charging" which can [cause hazardous discharges]() of excess electrons, while low Earth-orbit satellites could experience "orientation problems" due to increased drag. GPS systems could also experience intermittent issues. In other words, the Sun is not messing around. ## Weather Overground The Sun's activity has been steadily increasing in intensity as it nears the highest point of activity during its 11-year cycle. The latest warning is a reminder that while our planet's atmosphere acts like a highly effective barrier that shields us from harmful radiation, it won't be able to protect all the electronic systems we've put in place — particularly those currently orbiting the Earth. According [to NASA](), one flare [got so intense]() late last month that it registered as an X1-class flare upon detection, which is one of the most intense of its kind. The ongoing solar storm is also causing the appearance of auroras, or northern lights, across stretches of North America. According to the SWPC's statement, auroras "may be seen as low as Pennsylvania to Iowa to Oregon." The topic of space weather will only become more important as humanity spends more and more time traveling outside of our planet's protective bubble. The unusually high levels of radiation involved could eventually [pose a very real danger]() to astronauts. So while a powerful solar storm may not be of huge consequence in everyday life right now, it may just become a matter of life and death for astronauts. **READ MORE:** [Solar storm from 'cannibal' sun eruption may impact power grid and bring auroras as far south as Pennsylvania]() \[*Space.com*\] **More on the storm:** *[The Sun Just Blasted the Earth With an Enormous Solar Flare]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()