Powerful Magnetic Storm Burns the Earth

The largest electromagnetic energy emission in the last 30 yearshas been recorded on the Sun, the Shernberg State AstronomyInstitute said on Thursday. This energy outburst may damageequipment of space satellites, the scientists say. Doctors warnthat the emission is dangerous for those afflicted with cardiovascularillnesses as well as for healthy people.Scientists at the Shernberg Astronomy Institute of the Moscow StateUniversity have reported record-high emissions of electromagneticenergy on the Sun, the biggest since the 1970s. Over the past few days,the volume of sun radiation, or X9, has exceeded the normal level1,000-fold. The scientists call this phenomenon an anomaly and saythat the Sun is now in a stage when sunspots, sources of highelectromagnetic radiation, are unusual. "Outbursts on the Sun like thishave been extremely infrequent over the past 30 years," said IgorNikulin of the Shernberg Institute. "What is more, we have never had achance to observe such emissions with the sun at its minimal activity."Scientists say that the first indications of increased solar activitywere recorded on Monday when four sunspots appeared on the easternpart of the visible side of the solar disk. First, the scientists observedflashes on the Sun which were classified as moderate. However, theflashes were followed on Tuesday by massive outbursts of electro-magnetic energy. "Such a large cloud of hot plasma has been releasedinto space that even electronic equipment on space satellites may bedamaged," Vladimir Matveev at the Moscow Aviation Institute says.The Sun's electromagnetic anomaly has not reached the Earth yet.However, the Earth is expected to reach the sunspots quite soon. Theencounter may happen this weekend, scientists at the ShternbergAstronomy Institute report. Igor Nikulin says: "If the area of thesunspots does not diminish in three or four days and the emissionscontinue, it may have a serious influence on the magnetic field of theEarth." A cloud of hot plasma from the sunspots will make the Earth'smagnetic field vibrate and will cause a powerful magnetic storm."Doctors recommend their patients to keep to a special regime duringthe magnetic storm. People with cardiovascular illness are believed tobe at a particular risk. However, quite healthy people should be on theirguard as well. "One should not go overboard with drinking, going to thesauna or doing extra work," Vladimir Ryabinin, chief physician at theSklifosovskiy Ambulance Institute, advises. Other doctors suggest thatpeople pay close attention to their health conditions during the daysof the magnetic storm and go to consult their doctors in case ofany problem.
Anna Geroeva