Geomagnetic storms, what awaits us in 2026? The scientist’s answers

L’Aquila, 27 December 2025 – The whims of the Sun e geomagnetic storms they have no secrets for him. Umberto Villantespace physicist, professor emeritus at the University of L’Aquila, founder ofInternational School of space Sciencehas been studying these phenomena for over 40 years.

The scientist pressed: “The Sun has a periodic activity cycle that lasts about 11 yearsoscillates between maximum and minimum values. The phenomena that are at the origin of geomagnetic storms are coronal mass emissions, Coronal Mass Ejectionthe frequency of which naturally also varies based on the solar cycle. They are much more frequent in the years of greatest activity, 2026 also promises to have these characteristics.”

Interference in communications? Here’s what they depend on

But then we will have to take it into account interference in communications? “It’s not certain – replies the scientist -, it depends on the characteristics of these coronal mass emissions. The cycle began around 2020, still today we are in a period of maximum solar activity. But it is never a given that a notable coronal mass explosion could then have a severe impact on the Earth.” The only certainty is that expulsions will be repeated “dragging clouds of high-velocity, high-energy solar wind toward Earth.”

At this link all the info on Inaf

The role of the Earth’s magnetic field

As is known, the Earth’s magnetic field protects us from the so-called solar wind. “The effectiveness of a coronal mass emission depends greatly on the orientation of the magnetic field it brings with it – clarifies the professor -. The effect on the Earth is maximum when this orientation is the opposite to that of our magnetic field”.

Opposites “tend to cancel each other out and so it is reduced the earthly shield. This facilitates mass transfer and activates a very complex system of currents which also disrupts the ionosphere. As a consequence, you have disturbances in telecommunicationsi, in radio communications, to satellites e to air traffic”.

Can geomagnetic storms be predicted?

But how far in advance can we predict any effects on Earth geomagnetic storms? “A bulletin is issued – Villante replies – the moment one is spotted Coronal Mass Ejection. We are thus trying to understand what the time of arrival on Earth will be. It depends on the speed, the Sun is 150 million kilometers awayif the mass travels at 400-500 km per second it takes 4-5 days, which are naturally halved if that speed doubles.”

The whims of the Sun told in a book

Professor Villante told the story in a popular tone in a book – “When the Sun throws a tantrum” – this constant interaction between Earth and our starthe one closest to us. Which can influence us heavily, even from an economic point of view.

Not just the enchantment of the Northern Lights

And this is, in fact, the other side of the coin. Not just shows in the sky like that of Northern Lights, often visible even from Italy. They are also to be taken into account flight disturbancesespecially those who travel the polar routes. But the excesses of the Sun can also represent a heavy bill for satellites in orbit.