Earth to Experience , Third Near-Miss <br />by Solar Eruption , in a Week.<br />The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration<br />(NOAA) warns that Earth could potentially <br />be in the path of an eruption of energy from the sun. .<br />'Newsweek' reports that this is the third time <br />in a week the planet has narrowly dodged <br />a direct hit from a coronal mass ejection (CME).<br />'Newsweek' reports that this is the third time <br />in a week the planet has narrowly dodged <br />a direct hit from a coronal mass ejection (CME).<br />According to SpaceWeather, the CME is due to deliver a glancing blow to Earth on March 23. .<br />While Earth may not be hit directly, the CME is expected <br />to energize Earth's auroras, the multicolored sky <br />phenomena known as the northern and southern lights. .<br />'Newsweek' reports that CMEs have <br />the ability to disturb Earth's magnetic field <br />and cause issues with electrical systems. .<br />NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center <br />(SWPC) issued a warning that there <br />could be weak power grid fluctuations. .<br />Newsweek reports that similar <br />solar eruptions were reported on March 14, <br />then again on March 20 and 21. .<br />The frequency of CMEs is dependent upon <br />where the sun is in its 11 year cycle. .<br />3 near-miss CMEs in the span of a week isn't necessarily unusual at the height of solar maximum, but to happen now may be something of a statistical fluke, Martin Archer, a space weather researcher at Imperial College London's Department of Physics, via 'Newsweek'.<br />As the sun's activity ramps up over <br />the next few years, we can expect <br />more CMEs to be erupted both <br />in general and towards our planet, Martin Archer, a space weather researcher at Imperial College London's Department of Physics, via 'Newsweek'
