Advertisement

spaceSpace and PhysicsspaceAstronomy
clockPUBLISHED

Strong Geomagnetic Storm Expected Following Coronal Mass Ejection About To Hit Earth

A spike in solar activity is making the space weather around Earth more variable.

author

Dr. Alfredo Carpineti

author

Dr. Alfredo Carpineti

Senior Staff Writer & Space Correspondent

Alfredo (he/him) has a PhD in Astrophysics on galaxy evolution and a Master's in Quantum Fields and Fundamental Forces.

Senior Staff Writer & Space Correspondent

comments1Comment
share1.7kShares
The sun on August 18, as seen by the Solar Dynamic Observatory. Image Credit: SDO/AIA
The sun on August 18 as seen by the Solar Dynamic Observatory. Image Credit: SDO/AIA

The Sun is slowly approaching the maximum point of its cycle, as we can see from the more frequent warnings of geomagnetic storms. As our star gets more active, it spews more charged particles out into the solar system in the form of coronal mass ejections (CME). And the latest one is set to hit Earth in the next few hours.

The increase in charged particles hitting Earth will cause a geomagnetic storm. The National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center expects a strong storm today followed by a more moderate storm tomorrow caused by the continuing stream. Yesterday also saw some increase in activity, with a minor storm caused by the coronal high-speed stream moving ahead of the CME.

Advertisement

“Impacts to our technology from a G3 [strong] storm are usually minimal. However, a G3 storm has the potential to drive the aurora further away from its normal polar residence, and if other factors come together, the aurora might be seen over portions of Pennsylvania, Iowa, to northern Oregon,” the Space Weather Prediction Center, wrote in a post.

Infographic on the upcoming geomagnetic storm. Image Credit: NOAA SWPC
Infographic on the upcoming geomagnetic storm. Image Credit: NOAA SWPC


The peak of auroral activity is expected over Scandinavia just after sunset, and in North America much later in the night, as different waves of activity “wash” the Earth’s magnetosphere. 

Due to the increase in auroral activity, northern and southern lights have been visible since last night and not just from Earth. They have been glittering over the planet and are easily visible from Space too, as the astronauts on the international space station can attest. 


ARTICLE POSTED IN

spaceSpace and PhysicsspaceAstronomy
  • tag
  • the Sun,

  • coronal mass ejection,

  • geomagnetic storm,

  • Astronomy

FOLLOW ONNEWSGoogele News