In recent days, a large sunspot has appeared on the surface of the Sun, and its rapid expansion is attracting the attention of scientists. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
According to data from the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, this spot formed in the region facing Earth and its area and dimensions have sharply increased within the last 24 hours. Researchers estimate this expansion rate to be approximately 50 percent.
According to experts, such an event may be one of the ordinary astronomical processes, but its consequences could be serious. Sunspots usually increase the speed and density of the solar wind.
Scientists at the Space Research Institute believe that in the coming days, the solar wind speed around Earth will increase, potentially causing changes in the geomagnetic environment. Currently, darkening is observed not only in the upper but also in the lower layers of the atmosphere in the spot region.
This indicates that a large amount of material is being ejected from the inner layers of the Sun. Such occurrences are rare, which is why scientists are closely monitoring the event.
Experts predict that starting from August 18, the solar wind speed near Earth will begin to increase and may reach 800-900 kilometers per second on August 19-20. This is twice the usual speed and represents a very strong flow.
At the same time, the geomagnetic situation remains stable for now. Scientists emphasize that Earth's magnetic field will remain steady during the upcoming weekend.
However, over the next seven to ten days, the intensification of the solar wind may become the main factor affecting the geomagnetic environment. The exact consequences of this process are currently unknown, but a strong solar wind can sometimes impact communication systems, satellite operations, and even the intensity of the northern lights.
For this reason, scientific centers will continue to closely monitor this event in the coming days.
