3 Holes Just Opened on The Sun, And Earth Is Being Slammed With Geomagnetic Storms

The Sun is getting up to shenanigans again, and once again Earth is going to be feeling the effects. Coronal holes have opened up on the solar surface, sending geomagnetic storms in our direction.

Holes on the Sun might sounds a bit scary, but they're very common, particularly during the solar minimum. This is the quiet period of the Sun's 11-year activity cycle, which we're currently in.

Although sunspots and solar flares are fewer, and generally smaller when they do occur during the solar minimum, that doesn't mean that we can't be hit by geomagnetic storms.

This is because of coronal holes. These are cooler, less dense regions of plasma and open magnetic fields.

These open structures allow the solar winds to escape more easily, which can in turn blow electromagnetic radiation towards Earth if the hole is in the right position.

Last week, three of these holes opened up - sending high-speed solar winds right in our directions. This means solar storms - but we don't need to brace ourselves.

The NOAA has only released a G1 level solar storm watch - the lowest level on the scale.

This means most of the world isn't going to notice a thing! A G1-level storm usually means only the weakest effects will be felt on Earth.

There may be some very minor power grid fluctuations, and minor interference with satellite communications, such as GPS and satellite internet and television.

You may have also heard that geomagnetic storms are responsible for marine mammal beachings, as the interference with Earth's magnetic field interferes with their internal compasses.

That might not be the case after all - a NASA study found no clear causal connection between beaching events and geomagnetic storms.

If you're at high latitudes, you might be lucky enough to see aurora borealis or australis, as the charged particles from interactions with the solar wind are channeled towards Earth's poles by the magnetic field lines, where they interact with the ionosphere for a spectacular light show.

The NOAA has a handy aurora forecast map for 30 minutes ahead and 3 days ahead.

Read more  - https://www.sciencealert.com/solar-storms-three-coronal-holes-sun-g1-storm-watch

3 Holes Just Opened on The Sun, And Earth Is Being Slammed With Geomagnetic Storms

The Sun is getting up to shenanigans again, and once again Earth is going to be feeling the effects. Coronal holes have opened up on the solar surface, sending geomagnetic storms in our direction.

Holes on the Sun might sounds a bit scary, but they're very common, particularly during the solar minimum. This is the quiet period of the Sun's 11-year activity cycle, which we're currently in.

Although sunspots and solar flares are fewer, and generally smaller when they do occur during the solar minimum, that doesn't mean that we can't be hit by geomagnetic storms.

This is because of coronal holes. These are cooler, less dense regions of plasma and open magnetic fields.

These open structures allow the solar winds to escape more easily, which can in turn blow electromagnetic radiation towards Earth if the hole is in the right position.

Last week, three of these holes opened up - sending high-speed solar winds right in our directions. This means solar storms - but we don't need to brace ourselves.

The NOAA has only released a G1 level solar storm watch - the lowest level on the scale.

This means most of the world isn't going to notice a thing! A G1-level storm usually means only the weakest effects will be felt on Earth.

There may be some very minor power grid fluctuations, and minor interference with satellite communications, such as GPS and satellite internet and television.

You may have also heard that geomagnetic storms are responsible for marine mammal beachings, as the interference with Earth's magnetic field interferes with their internal compasses.

That might not be the case after all - a NASA study found no clear causal connection between beaching events and geomagnetic storms.

If you're at high latitudes, you might be lucky enough to see aurora borealis or australis, as the charged particles from interactions with the solar wind are channeled towards Earth's poles by the magnetic field lines, where they interact with the ionosphere for a spectacular light show.

The NOAA has a handy aurora forecast map for 30 minutes ahead and 3 days ahead.

Read more  - https://www.sciencealert.com/solar-storms-three-coronal-holes-sun-g1-storm-watch

India`s Taj Mahal minarets damaged in storm

A storm has damaged two minarets located at different entry gates of the iconic Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra.

Officials told the BBC that winds blowing at 130kmh (80mph) caused the 12ft (4m) pillars to collapse.

The four longer minarets that surround the main structure remain intact.

The 17th Century mausoleum attracts about 12,000 visitors a day and is one of the world's most popular tourist attractions.

One of the destroyed minarets was located at the royal gate where tourists often get their first glimpse of the monument.

The other was located at the southern gate.

Authorities said that work had begun to restore the damaged structures.

Read more - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-43735757

India`s Taj Mahal minarets damaged in storm

A storm has damaged two minarets located at different entry gates of the iconic Taj Mahal in the northern Indian city of Agra.

Officials told the BBC that winds blowing at 130kmh (80mph) caused the 12ft (4m) pillars to collapse.

The four longer minarets that surround the main structure remain intact.

The 17th Century mausoleum attracts about 12,000 visitors a day and is one of the world's most popular tourist attractions.

One of the destroyed minarets was located at the royal gate where tourists often get their first glimpse of the monument.

The other was located at the southern gate.

Authorities said that work had begun to restore the damaged structures.

Read more - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-43735757

Sinkhole in northwest Indiana swallows car

HOBART, Ind. — A sinkhole swallowed a car in northwest Indiana Wednesday, prompting emergency repairs and a warning from police to avoid the road.

The Hobart Police Department posted a photo on its Facebook page showing a car wedged in a hole on the deteriorating road.

“Traffic Alert,” the department wrote. “Steer clear of the area of 9th & Lincoln Street (State Road 51). Vehicle in sinkhole and road will need to be repaired.”

It was unclear if the driver was injured, although she was taken to a local hospital.

According to the Times of Northwest Indiana, the city was alerted about problems with the road two weeks ago. City Engineer Phillip Gralik said a sewer collapse was responsible for the sinkhole.

Gralik told the publication that they were “moving as fast as we could” and didn’t believe there was any imminent danger from the reported problem prior to Wednesday’s collapse.

The department issued a request on April 5 for bids for an emergency sewer repair project. The company that won the bid was scheduled to start work on April 16, but given the large sinkhole in the road, work began Wednesday.

Read more - http://fox59.com/2018/04/12/sinkhole-in-northwest-indiana-swallows-car-prompts-emergency-road-repairs/

Sinkhole in northwest Indiana swallows car

HOBART, Ind. — A sinkhole swallowed a car in northwest Indiana Wednesday, prompting emergency repairs and a warning from police to avoid the road.

The Hobart Police Department posted a photo on its Facebook page showing a car wedged in a hole on the deteriorating road.

“Traffic Alert,” the department wrote. “Steer clear of the area of 9th & Lincoln Street (State Road 51). Vehicle in sinkhole and road will need to be repaired.”

It was unclear if the driver was injured, although she was taken to a local hospital.

According to the Times of Northwest Indiana, the city was alerted about problems with the road two weeks ago. City Engineer Phillip Gralik said a sewer collapse was responsible for the sinkhole.

Gralik told the publication that they were “moving as fast as we could” and didn’t believe there was any imminent danger from the reported problem prior to Wednesday’s collapse.

The department issued a request on April 5 for bids for an emergency sewer repair project. The company that won the bid was scheduled to start work on April 16, but given the large sinkhole in the road, work began Wednesday.

Read more - http://fox59.com/2018/04/12/sinkhole-in-northwest-indiana-swallows-car-prompts-emergency-road-repairs/

Volcano in Vanuatu spills heavy ash sparking evacuation fears for 11,000 residents

A state of emergency has been declared for Vanuatu's Ambae Island as a volcano continues to spill thick heavy ash.

Thousands of residents who call the island home have been warned they may need to evacuate after up to 1cm of ash has fallen in some areas north of the island on Tuesday night. 

The situation was described as 'becoming critical in some areas' and national EMT coordinator Dr Basil Leodoro told Vanuatu Daily Post they had 'received reports of houses collapsing due to the weight of the ash.' 

Medical assistance teams arrived on the island on Thursday to 'provide medical support...sanitation, surveillance and public health services support to the people of Ambae,' Dr Leodoro said. 

'I am confirming that heavy ash fall has caused skin and eye irritations, and exacerbated breathing conditions like asthma,' continued Dr Leodoro.

'We are also working very closely with our disease surveillance teams to monitor reported cases of Mumps, acute gastroenteritis and dengue in all Ambae residents but particularly those at evacuation centres.'

'I am grateful to the Australian government ... for supporting these teams to deploy and provide medical, surgical, mental health, psychosocial support, logistics, water, sanitation, surveillance and public health services support to the people of Ambae,' he said.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5606491/Volcano-Vanuatus-Ambae-Island-spills-heavy-ash-acid-rain-falls-