Arriving about 2 days later than expectedacoronal mass ejection (CME) hit the Earth’s magnetic field in the past few hours. “The impact did not initially cause a geomagnetic storm, but it was strong enough to trigger bright auroras around the Arctic Circle,” explains astrophysicist Tony Phillips on the specialized site SpaceWeather.com. “Hours after first contact, a geomagnetic storm of class G1 it exploded as Earth passed through the CME’s wake. The south-facing magnetic fields following the CME have opened a crack in our planet’s magnetosphere. Solar wind poured in to fuel the storm“.
Above is the photo taken by Alan Pagotowhich documents the aurora at Morin Heights (Quebec, Canada).
New geomagnetic storm arriving
After this impact which arrived surprisingly later than expected, there is now alert for a new “hit” of solar plasma. A faint CME left the Sun on April 15, the result of an M-class solar flare from sunspot AR3639. A NASA model predicts that the CME will hit the Earth’s magnetic field tomorrow, April 18. Its impact could trigger a new class G1 geomagnetic storm.
What is a solar flare
A blasting solar it is a sudden and violent explosion on the surface of the Sun, generated by changes in its magnetic fields. These events release enormous amounts of energy in forms such as radiation and charged particles. They can be observed in different wavelengths, including ultraviolet and visible. Solar flares can affect space weather and technology on Earth, causing radio blackouts, interference in satellite communications and damage to electrical systems. They can also produce spectacular auroras in the polar regions.
What is a coronal mass ejection (CME)
An ecoronal mass epulsion (CME) is a massive emission of magnetized matter from the Sun in its corona. These events often occur during solar maxima, when magnetic activity is strongest. A CME can release billions of tons of solar plasma into the magnetosphere and interplanetary space, traveling at speeds of several hundred to more than a thousand kilometers per second. When a CME interacts with Earth’s magnetic field, it can cause geomagnetic storms, affecting radio communications, damaging satellites and power grids, and creating spectacular auroras.
What is a geomagnetic storm
A storm geomagnetic is a temporary alteration of the Earth’s magnetic field, caused by a sudden change in the interaction between the solar wind and the field magnetic of the Earth. These storms are often triggered by solar events such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs) or solar flares. When particle-laden plasma emitted by the Sun interacts with Earth’s magnetic field, it can compress the magnetosphere and cause disturbances. These may include increased auroral activity, interference in radio and satellite communications, damage to electronic navigation systems and electrical transformers. Geomagnetic storms can also affect Earth-orbiting satellites. Their intensity ranges from mild to severe, with the most powerful storms likely to have significant impacts on technology and the space environment.
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