Blackouts and power grid disruptions could follow a massive solar storm after it hit the Earth this week, an expert has warned - but only if it rages for long enough.

专家警告称，本周一场巨大的太阳风暴将袭击地球，若持续时间足够长，可能会引发停电和电网中断。

Physicists tracked the approach and planetfall of a geomagnetic storm this week, with waves of energy ejected from the Sun seen hitting the Earth late on Tuesday. Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said this week that the powerful storm would continue to power into the planet above the USA into today, creating a rare and spectacular display of colour above the skies around Kentucky. But if it hangs around too long and projects a strong enough "southward field", an expert has warned, it could cripple some vital services.

本周，物理学家追踪了地磁风暴的逼近和行星坠落， 周二晚些时候，太阳喷射出的能量波撞击地球。 美国国家海洋和大气管理局（NOAA）官员表示，这场强烈风暴将在今天继续影响美国上空， 为肯塔基州周边地区的天空带来罕见而壮观的色彩景象。 专家警告称，如果风暴持续时间过长并形成足够强的“南向磁场”，可能会导致部分关键服务瘫痪。

Speaking to the Daily Mail, independent space weather physicist Dr Tamitha Skov said power outages might develop if the storm lasts for more than 10 hours. She explained that, while many Americans will have their eyes fixed at the skies - with the aurora-like display most visible between 10pm and 2am - grid operators will be paying attention to its energy output.

独立空间天气物理学家塔米莎·斯科夫博士在接受《每日邮报》采访时表示， 如果这场风暴持续超过10小时，可能会停电。 她解释说， 许多美国人可以抬头欣赏夜空中的极光般景象（最明显的时间在晚上10点至凌晨2点之间），但电网运营商则将密切关注风暴所释放的能量。

But she said this would depend on the scale of the storm, which the NOAA has marked down as a G3, the third highest of the five solar storm grades. Dr Skov said: "The key is the length of the G3. So guaranteed, the grid operators are paying close attention right now.

但她表示，这将取决于风暴的规模，美国国家海洋和大气管理局（NOAA）已将其评定为G3等级，是五级太阳风暴中第三高的等级。 斯科夫博士表示：“关键在于G3风暴持续的时间。 可以肯定的是，电网运营商现在正密切关注。”

"Storms like this one that have sustained strong southward fields are the hardest on the grids for sure. I would check Sweden, Norway and possibly New Zealand for reports of grid strain and outages.

“像这种持续存在强南向磁场的风暴，对电网的影响无疑是最大的。 我会关注瑞典、挪威，以及新西兰，看看是否有电网压力或停电的报告。”

"Higher latitudes always suffer more than lower latitudes during these storms and typically, the higher latitudes countries are the proverbial 'canary in the coalmine' for lower latitudes."

“在这类风暴中，高纬度地区总是比低纬度地区受到的影响更大， 而这些高纬度国家往往就像‘矿井里的金丝雀’一样——最先出现异常，是对低纬度地区可能出现问题的预警信号。”

The NOAA earlier warned that people may expect "limited, minor effects" on technological infrastructure, adding any issues would likely be "mitigable". The organisation said: "Limited, minor effects to some technological infrastructure is possible, but usually mitigable. The aurora may also be visible over many northern states and parts of the Midwest to Oregon."

美国国家海洋和大气管理局（NOAA）早前曾警告称，技术基础设施会受到“有限的、轻微的影响”， 并补充说任何问题都“通常是可以应对的”。 该机构表示：“部分技术基础设施可能会受到有限轻微的影响，通常是可以缓解的。 美国多个北方州以及从中西部到俄勒冈州的部分地区可见极光。”

The organisation has also released a list of more than a dozen states that may get a glimpse of an aurora.

NOAA还公布了一份州名单，共十多个州，包括：

They include: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois,

阿拉斯加、华盛顿州、俄勒冈州、蒙大拿州、北达科他州、南达科他州、明尼苏达州、密歇根州、威斯康星州、佛蒙特州、新罕布什尔州、缅因州、爱达荷州、 怀俄明州、内布拉斯加州、爱荷华州、伊利诺伊州、

New York, Pennsylvania.

纽约州和宾夕法尼亚州。

Auroras materialise when the sun ejects particles that produce light when they collide with the Earth's atmosphere. They are only visible when the weather allows - meaning any US cities in the forecast range that are overcast tonight sadly won't catch a glimpse.

极光的形成是由于太阳释放出的粒子与地球大气层碰撞时产生光线。 这种景象只有在天气晴朗时才能看到——也就是说，如果这些州今晚天空被云层遮盖，那就看不到极光了。