The sun erupted with two powerful X-class solar flares on August 5th, prompting concerns about potential geomagnetic storms. While the first flare, originating from sunspot AR3767, is unlikely to directly impact Earth, the second flare from AR3780 is still being investigated for potential consequences. These flares highlight the sun’s immense power and the importance of monitoring space weather activity.
A powerful solar eruption, known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), caused Earth’s magnetic shield to temporarily vanish, revealing a unique phenomenon known as Alfvén wings. The discovery provides insights into the dynamics of magnetic fields around other celestial bodies, including Jupiter’s moon Ganymede.
An extreme solar storm, the first since 2003, has reached Earth, triggering stunning aurora shows in various countries. The storm, classified as a G5 geomagnetic storm, is expected to continue through the weekend. It has the potential to disrupt various technologies, including communications, navigation, and power grids. People across Europe, the UK, and even Tasmania have taken to social media to share images of the vibrant auroras, which are visible to the naked eye. Unlike solar flares, which travel at the speed of light, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) move more slowly, taking several days to reach Earth.
A colossal sunspot, AR3664, with a size 15 times that of Earth, has unleashed a barrage of solar flares, including several powerful X-class flares. These flares have launched clouds of plasma, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), directly towards Earth. The CMEs are expected to trigger a severe geomagnetic storm, known as a G4 disturbance, which could disrupt satellite signals, power infrastructure, and communications. While G4 storms are not uncommon during the sun’s active phase, the current storm is predicted to be amplified by the merging of multiple CMEs. This heightened intensity could lead to widespread auroras across North America.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has issued an alert warning of a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm expected to hit Earth on May 10-12, 2024. This is the first storm of this magnitude since January 2005. The storm is caused by multiple Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that are expected to merge and arrive on Earth late May 10 or early May 11. The storm has the potential to disrupt infrastructure, including communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio, and satellite operations. However, it may also cause spectacular displays of aurora in northern states of the US, Canada, and northern Europe.
