Solar storms, powerful bursts of energy from the Sun, have long been a source of concern for scientists. As a result of their activity, serious disruptions to electrical and communication infrastructure are possible. In response to this challenge, NASA, the leading space agency, has introduced an innovative early warning system based on artificial intelligence models.

The foundation of this approach is the utilization of the difference in the speed of light relative to solar matter emitted during these storms. This speed advantage allows the prediction of an upcoming storm with at least a 30-minute lead time, enabling necessary precautionary measures to be taken.

In implementing this ambitious project, NASA's research team utilized data from various satellites observing the Sun, including ACE, Wind, IMP-8, and Geotail. While these instruments already provide information about solar flares that can lead to storms, predicting the precise effects of such an event on Earth is crucial.

Hence, the necessity of incorporating data from ground-based stations that recorded the effects of previous solar storms into the analysis. The mentioned data served as training material for a deep learning model called DAGGER. Compared to traditional algorithms, DAGGER offers significantly higher speed and forecast accuracy.

Under the direction of Vishal Upendran from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in India, the research team achieved impressive results. The DAGGER model can determine the strength and direction of an incoming solar storm in less than a second and makes forecasts every minute.

An additional innovation is DAGGER's ability to rapidly forecast for the entire surface of the Earth, taking into account the computational complexity associated with predicting the storm's impact location. This is important because half of the Earth, the "night" side, is shielded by the planet's mass from the direct effects of a solar storm.

This system has been enthusiastically welcomed by experts. Dr. Sarah Gibson from the National Center for Atmospheric Research emphasized the potential of the DAGGER model in revolutionizing our ability to protect critical infrastructure.

NASA's ultimate goal is to continuously improve and expand the capabilities of this system to provide comprehensive protection against the unpredictable and potentially destructive effects of solar storms. With advances in artificial intelligence and increasingly better monitoring of solar activity, the future of solar storm protection seems to be in good hands.