Ongoing solar storm could cut off Earth’s radio communications

A solar storm is currently building around Earth, bringing with it the potential to disrupt radio and satellite communications.

The bursts – known as coronal mass ejections (CME) – are also causing bright auroras.

Experts said a crack in the Earth’s magnetic field opened on July 19, which allowed waves of wind and solar radiation to interact with the planet’s magnetosphere and adding to the ‘minor G1-class geomagnetic storm’.

Dr Sebastian Voltmer told SpaceWeather he saw the storm through his own “small” telescope when a prominence fell from the sun.

“It was spectacular to see a very fast moving part of it ejecting and detaching to the side,” Voltmer told SpaceWeather.

SpaceWeather is warning high-latitude sky watchers to remain alert for magnificent auroras as the geomagnetic activity creates intense light shows across the sky.

Auroras have already been reported in parts of North America as storm activity has increased.

The storm is not a direct threat to life on Earth.