NASA has said that several powerful solar events are expected to hit Earth over the next few days, potentially leading to significant geomagnetic storms. The third storm, which is likely to be the most severe, is expected to hit Earth this week on August 11.
The Sun is currently emitting a trio of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), the first two of which originated from M-class solar flares on August 7.
Although these initial CMEs are relatively small, the third CME, driven by an X1.3 class solar flare on August 8, is the most powerful. The third CME from the highly active sunspot AR3777 produced an extreme ultraviolet flash that was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. It caused a shortwave radio blackout affecting areas from North America to the Hawaiian Islands, disrupting signals below 30 MHz for up to an hour.
Coronal mass ejections are giant blasts of solar wind and magnetic fields that emerge from the Sun’s corona. These explosions release billions of tons of plasma into space, potentially disrupting Earth’s magnetic field and affecting satellites, communications and power grids.
Following the flare, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) detected a halo CME heading directly toward Earth at more than 1,000 kilometers per second. This CME is expected to arrive by August 11, potentially intensifying the effects of the earlier CME.
The combined effect of these solar events could raise the level of a geomagnetic storm to Category G3 (Strong), increasing the chance of mid-latitude auroras visible in the United States and Europe.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a geomagnetic storm warning, urging us to prepare for potential impacts on technological infrastructure.
Geomagnetic storms occur when a CME or solar wind disrupts the Earth’s magnetic field. These storms can lead to beautiful auroras but can also disrupt GPS, radio communications and power systems. The severity of these storms depends on the strength and direction of the solar wind’s magnetic field. The storms can create perfect conditions for auroras, which will likely be visible farther from the poles than usual.
Boaters, ham radio operators and those relying on satellite-based systems are advised to stay informed and take necessary precautions.
Sunspot AR3777 is currently one of the most active regions on the Sun, reflecting increasing solar activity as the Earth approaches solar maximum, the peak of the Sun’s 11-year cycle. Space weather experts are closely monitoring the situation as Earth faces potential impacts from these solar particles.
This series of solar storms comes after a similar series of events in May, which produced aurora borealis extending as far as India and put tremendous stress on satellites.
