18.02.2011, 11:54 6526

Sun eruptions to reach Earth

British researchers said three solar flare eruptions, including the strongest since 2006, are set to collide with Earth's magnetic shield Thursday and Friday, Kazakhstan Today reports.

Almaty. February 18. Kazakhstan Today - British researchers said three solar flare eruptions, including the strongest since 2006, are set to collide with Earth's magnetic shield Thursday and Friday, Kazakhstan Today reports.

Scientists around the world will be watching closely as three eruptions from the Sun reach the Earth over Thursday and Friday, BBC News reported.

These "coronal mass ejections" will slam into the Earth's magnetic shield. The waves of charged solar particles are the result of three solar flares directed at Earth in recent days, including the most powerful since 2006.

The northern lights (Aurora Borealis) may also be visible further south than is normally the case - including from northern parts of the UK.

"Our current view is that the effect of the solar flare is likely to reach Earth on Thursday (GMT), possibly Friday morning," said Alan Thomson, head of geomagnetism at the British Geological Survey (BGS).

However, weather forecasts suggested cloudy conditions could mar views of any aurorae.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) said that three coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were en route as the result of solar flares on the 13, 14 and 15 February (GMT).

"The last of the three seems to be the fastest and may catch both of the forerunners about mid-to-late day tomorrow, February 17," read a statement from Noaa's Space Weather Prediction Center.

The northern lights could be seen further south than is normal

The flare recorded at 0156 GMT on 15 February was the strongest such event in four years, according to the US space agency (Nasa), which has been monitoring activity on the Sun. The event was classified as a so-called X-flare, the most intense type.

The source of all three events, sunspot 1158, has expanded rapidly in recent days.

Solar flares are caused by the sudden release of magnetic energy stored in the Sun's atmosphere.

Their effects can interfere with modern technology on Earth, such as electrical power grids, communications systems and satellites - including satellite navigation (or sat-nav) signals.

Researchers say the Sun has been awakening after a period of several years of low activity.

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