Cape Town - You could have five hours’ worth of tanning in five minutes if caught up in radiation from a solar flare, four of which hit Earth this week, with many more expected for the next three years.
The Southern African Space Weather Centre (SASWC) based in Hermanus has warned people to take precautions when outside.
The flares were gigantic balls of gas that broke off from the sun and had magnetic areas which could be as large as 200km2, resulting in massive amounts of X-Rays and ultra-violet rays being emitted towards the Earth, SASWC space weather officer Kobus Olckers said yesterday.
Olckers said this week’s flares did not have a dramatic effect on South Africa because they happened at a time the US was tilted at the sun.
He said while the flares’ rays took about eight minutes to reach Earth, it took from 24 hours to three days for the magnetic fields to reach the planet.
Olckers said that when magnetic fields did reach the Earth, they could interrupt communications systems such as the internet, and power supplies.
“We are so dependent on technology these days and if the internet messes up there is a problem. If you go down to the beach you’ll get a tan quicker than you expect. For the next three to four years – if your electrical supply or communications are interrupted, do not blame it all on the utilities that provide those services,” Olckers said in response to how people would be affected by the flares.
For updates on the solar flares visit spacewather.co.za or twitter @SpaceweatherSA. - Cape Times