2023-05-09 17:44:29
According spaceweather.com, a moderate to strong geomagnetic storm will hit Earth in the early hours of Wednesday, May 10.
The focus is on solar activity, which will peak in 2024. Indeed, an increase in the frequency of solar flares has been observed in recent months. On Sunday, May 7 at 10:54 UTC, a long duration M1.5 class solar flare caused a small power outage. Last night, the effects of the eruption continued, with a peak reported at 03:54 UTC, resulting in loss of radio signals – of moderate intensity (R2) – for tens of minutes.
This solar flare was followed by a more intense coronal mass ejection from the Sun which is expected to reach Earth in the next few hours. The consequences are not serious: what is expected, it’s a light show at the North Pole.
Yesterday’s center-disk eruption is expected to be Earth-directed, and perhaps strongly: a moderate, strong, or severe geomagnetic storm is possible.
Arrival varies from late in the day tomorrow to late in the day Wednesday. We’ll post aurora viewing maps later tonight. pic.twitter.com/UOdcddgGk4Space Weather Watch (@spacewxwatch) May 8, 2023
It is important to note that these space weather forecasts involve uncertainties and are subject to change, just like terrestrial weather forecasts. Advisories from the Space Weather Prediction Center of the NOAA will let you know more on the intensity of the event.
Solar flare and coronal mass ejection
“Solar flares are large flares of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun They are emitted by sunspots and reach Earth at the speed of light, which means we feel their effects as soon as they occur. do they harm? These flashes of light can cause telecommunications failures. Radio waves are disturbed by ionization in the lower layers of the ionosphere.
| Ladder | Intensity | Effects |
|---|---|---|
| G5 | Extreme | It can cause power outages, significant damage to transformers, widespread disruptions to communications and satellite navigation, as well as auroras visible at very low latitudes. |
| G4 | Severe | It can lead more serious problems in electrical systems, disruptions in navigation and satellite communications, and auroras visible at even lower latitudes. |
| G3 | Forte | It can lead to power fluctuations in electrical networks, difficulties in controlling electrical networks, possible impacts on satellite navigation and auroras visible at lower than normal latitudes. |
| G2 | Moderate | She can cause wider auroras, abnormal voltages in electrical systems and possible effects on satellites orbiting the Earth. |
| G1 | Minor | May have minor effects on electrical networks, small power fluctuations and visible auroras at high latitudes. |
| G scale of geomagnetic storms. Source: NOAA/National Geographic: NOAA/National Geographic. | ||
On the other hand, coronal mass ejection consists of large ejections of plasma and magnetized particles from the Sun who travel slowly through space. It often occurs in conjunction with a solar flare, as it will this time. As a result, a geomagnetic storm may occur on Earth, mainly generating aurora borealis and, depending on its intensity, breakdowns of electrical systems, GPS signals and communications.
How far can you see the aurora borealis?
In the event of a moderate geomagnetic storm (G2) in the next few hours, aurora borealis might be observed in parts of the United States, for example from New York and Idaho, explains the NOAA.
What if it was a strong geomagnetic storm (G3), the flashes of light would spread further south, which may surprise residents of states such as Illinois or Oregon, the institution adds.
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