Space weather forecasters have issued an alert for incoming severe solar storms that could produce colourful northern lights and disrupt equipment, including electricity transmission lines in the South Island.
In the past few days, the sun has burped out several bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that could reach Earth overnight.
The potential severe geomagnetic storms could disrupt radio and GPS communications, according to forecasters with the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In New Zealand, Transpower issued a grid emergency notice this afternoon as it removed some South Island electricity transmission lines from service due to the possible storms.
"Removing the circuits from service does not have any impact on consumers’ electricity supply but is an important step to prevent damage to critical equipment should the solar storm get worse," a spokesperson for the organisation said.
"Transpower will issue further operational notices either when the storm passes to remove the grid emergency or to provide additional information should the situation change materially or further actions be required."
How bright the auroras are and how far south they are visible will depend on when the solar bursts get here and how they interact with Earth's atmosphere.
How northern lights happen
The sun is at the maximum phase of its 11-year activity cycle, making the light displays more common and widespread.
Colourful northern lights have previously decorated night skies in unexpected places overseas, and space weather experts say there are more auroras still to come.
Aurora displays known as the northern and southern lights are commonly visible near the poles, where charged particles from the sun interact with Earth’s atmosphere.
Skygazers are spotting the lights deeper into the United States and Europe because the sun is going through a major facelift.
Every 11 years, its poles swap places, causing magnetic twists and tangles along the way.
Last year, the strongest geomagnetic storm in two decades slammed Earth, producing light displays across the Northern Hemisphere.
The sun’s active spurt is expected to last at least through the end of this year, though when solar activity will peak won’t be known until months after the fact, according to NASA and NOAA.
How solar storms affect Earth
Solar storms can bring more than colourful lights to Earth.
When fast-moving particles and plasma slam into Earth’s magnetic field, they can temporarily disrupt the power grid.
Transpower said geomagnetic storms can send "unwanted currents through the long electricity circuits that we manage. When the currents reach transformers in our substations or the large hydroelectric dams, they have the potential to cause extensive damage.
"To minimise the risk of damage to critical equipment, Transpower may work with industry to switch off some parts of the power system for a time in an extreme solar storm."
Space weather can also interfere with air traffic control radio and satellites in orbit. Severe storms are capable of scrambling other radio and GPS communications.
In 1859, a severe solar storm triggered auroras as far south as Hawaii and set telegraph lines on fire in a rare event. And a 1972 solar storm may have detonated magnetic US sea mines off the coast of Vietnam.
Space weather experts aren’t able to predict a solar storm months in advance. Instead, they alert relevant parties to prepare in the days before a solar outburst hits Earth.
– additional reporting by 1News Reporters
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