Northern Lights Could be Visible on New Year’s Eve, Report

While New Year’s Eve has always been historically celebrated with fireworks, a massive solar flare could be about to change things for millions by creating a stunning light show as 2015 becomes 2016.

The eruption of a sunspot cluster produced an M1-class solar flare directly aimed at Earth. Discovery News reports that the extreme ultraviolet radiation immediately washed over Earth’s upper atmosphere, initiating an ionisation event that caused a radio blackout over South America, Africa and the south Atlantic Ocean.

Even though the solar flare was not as powerful as an X-class flare, it did trigger a coronal mass ejection (CME), which is believed to be travelling in the direction of the Earth. The space weather forecasters believe that the CME will potentially hit Earth’s magnetic field on or around New Year’s Eve to produce some spectacular natural fireworks as 2016 starts.

The interaction between the CMS and Earth’s magnetic field could affect GPS, spacecraft and power systems on Earth, in addition to significant aurora displays and radio blackout. The aurora is expected to be visible in Canada and as far as Oregon and Illinois.

The SWPC first predicted that the storm would take place in early morning Wednesday. However, Spaceweather.com reports that the magnetic field and the plasma are still on their way to hit Earth with a 90 percent chance for geomagnetic activity.

People living in high altitudes are advised to keep an eye up at the sky to witness a bright aurora as the high energy solar particles disrupt atmospheric gases.

Agencies/Canadajournal