Solar activity could impact power grids, radios for 36 hours

Taipei, Jan. 20 (CNA) A geomagnetic disturbance is expected to affect Earth for about 36 hours and could briefly reach the level of a severe geomagnetic storm, Taiwan's Space Weather Operational Office said Tuesday.

Aurora may be visible in regions around geomagnetic latitude 40 degrees during the period of geomagnetic disturbance, the office said.

The disturbance was caused by a long-duration solar flare that occurred on Monday in an active solar region and was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection, the agency explained.

The solar event passed through the near-Earth space environment early Tuesday, resulting in a marked increase in solar wind speed and density in interplanetary space.

The disturbance is expected to last approximately 36 hours, and its maximum intensity could briefly reach the level of a severe geomagnetic storm, according to the office.

The agency said the geomagnetic disturbance could lead to abnormally increased line current, the inability to use high-frequency radio communication, anomalies in low-frequency radio communication and satellite positioning errors.

The agency warned that large-scale voltage control systems and protection systems could experience problems as a result of the disturbance, while some power transmission networks could be completely interrupted or experience brief power outages.