16/06/2026 19:52 - Tecnologia
Eyección de masa coronal solar emergiendo del Sol con tonos naranjas brillantes y plasma incandescente expulsándose hacia el espacio, vista desde un observatorio espacial
Scientists have successfully identified specific patterns in the Sun's atmosphere that act as early warning signals before violent coronal mass ejections (CMEs) occur. This breakthrough represents a significant advancement in humanity's ability to predict and prepare for solar storms, phenomena that can have serious consequences for our technological infrastructure.
Coronal mass ejections are enormous clouds of plasma and magnetic fields that the Sun ejects into space. When these reach Earth, they can cause everything from spectacular aurora borealis displays to massive power outages, satellite damage, and disruptions to radio and GPS communications.
Researchers found that certain variations in the solar corona—the Sun's outer atmosphere—present recognizable patterns hours or even days before a major explosion. These signals include:
The lead time these indicators provide could be crucial for protecting satellites, electrical grids, and navigation systems.
The Sun operates on approximately 11-year cycles of activity. During solar maximums, storms are more frequent and intense.
Carrington Event (1859): The most powerful solar storm ever recorded caused auroras visible even in tropical regions and telegraph system failures.
1989 Quebec Blackout: A solar storm left 6 million people without electricity for 9 hours.
In an increasingly technology-dependent world, solar storms represent a real and costly threat. The most vulnerable sectors include:
| Sector | Main Risk | Potential Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Satellites | Damage from charged particles | Loss of GPS, weather forecasting |
| Power Grids | Geomagnetically induced currents | Massive blackouts, transformer damage |
| Aviation | Radiation on polar routes | Flight diversions, passenger health risks |
| Telecommunications | Radio signal interference | Loss of connectivity |
A extreme solar storm could cause damages worth trillions of dollars globally without proper preparation. The ability to anticipate these events with hours or days of advance notice would enable protective protocols.
This discovery paves the way for developing space weather early warning systems, similar to those existing for hurricanes or earthquakes. Solar observatories like NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and ESA's Solar Orbiter provide constant data that, combined with these new indicators, could revolutionize space weather prediction.
Research continues to advance, and scientists hope that in the coming years, an operational prediction system can be established, allowing governments and companies to take preventive measures before a solar storm impacts Earth.
Source: Rosario3
Alfredo S. Quiroga
