A strong geomagnetic storm has recently occurred on Earth. Here’s an explanation of what that entails and what you should anticipate.
Officials categorize the recent event on the planet as a severe geomagnetic storm, which is ranked second on NOAA’s scale. The storm caused a significant disturbance in the Earth’s magnetic field, potentially affecting infrastructure and causing the northern lights to be visible at a greater distance than normal.
The Space Weather Prediction Center of NOAA announced a watch for a geomagnetic storm on Saturday, revealing that a coronal mass ejection had been identified and is projected to reach Earth later that day and continue through Monday. Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, occur when a massive burst of plasma and magnetic field is released from the sun’s corona.
On Friday, a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) and a solar flare occurred simultaneously. A solar flare is when radiation bursts from the sun. According to NOAA, these flares can last for hours and move at the speed of light. This means that they can affect Earth as soon as they are detected.X-class flare
Similarly to the CME we previously observed, this recent occurrence is the most powerful type of flare. It should be noted, however, that it is not the strongest on record. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted that there is a chance of more X-class flares occurring until Wednesday.
A “serious” weather event with the potential to affect technology could eventually result in the northern lights being visible as far south as Alabama.
According to NOAA’s alert, the general population should not expect negative consequences and need not take any measures, but it is important to stay up-to-date on the progress of the storm by checking our website. They also mentioned the potential for manageable issues with voltage control and frequent and extended periods of GPS interference.
The agency informed infrastructure operators to take necessary steps to lessen any potential repercussions.
At the start of the week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the effects of the coronal mass ejection (CME) seemed to be decreasing, although the speed of the solar wind, which transports the event, was still elevated. The caution of a “moderate” storm has been prolonged. Geomagnetic storms classified as G2, which fall under the moderate category, have the potential to affect power systems in high-latitude areas, cause damage to transformers, and extend the phenomenon of the northern lights to places like New York and Idaho. They may also require corrective actions for flight ground control to adjust orientation.
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Source: cbsnews.com