NASA: A Solar Storm is likely to make landfall on Earth any time today, and there’s a chance it could damage your phone, the Internet, and more. Learn how to protect your device
NASA: A massive solar storm is about to hit Earth today, and satellites aren’t the only electronics at risk. Yes, today’s solar storm can also damage your cell phone. This particular solar storm is stronger than usual and as such, it will have a greater impact on our planet. The solar storm was detected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Tuesday, after a coronal mass ejection (CME) was thrown towards Earth. According to the data, the solar storm has been classified as a Category G2 hurricane, which means it will carry moderate electromagnetic fields with it. These fields can not only harm satellites and wireless communication systems on Earth, but also your smartphone. So how can you protect your cell phone? Read to find out.
Yesterday, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center tweeted out the specifics surrounding the solar storm. The tweet said, “WSA Enlil modeling shows that a CME (combined with the C1 flare at 11/0521 UTC from now Area 2987) is likely to impact Earth on April 14. A G2 (Medium) geomagnetic storm watch was released on April 14, as well as a G1 (Small) watch for April 15”.
NASA: Powerful solar storm is about to hit Earth
NASA explained that a Category G2 solar storm is usually moderate in intensity and it doesn’t cause as much damage as a G5 solar storm. However, it can disrupt GPS signals, cellular networks, damage sensitive equipment on satellites, and more. Short radio frequencies such as the HF and VHF bands were closed today due to the coming storm. But this is not the full extent of the damage a solar storm can cause. In some cases, electromagnetic fields can also interfere with transformers and power grids and can cause voltage fluctuations.
While voltage fluctuations are not a cause for concern, it can affect your electronic devices including smartphones, if they are plugged into a power line. Charging your device during fluctuating times can short-circuit your smartphone’s motherboard and damage the device significantly.
So when a solar storm hits Earth, watch out for any signs of voltage fluctuations. These can be observed by flashing lights or slowing down the ceiling fan. If you notice it, immediately unplug any smartphone that is charging. Also unplug any other electronic devices connected to the power line.
