Strong geomagnetic storm could hit Earth this weekend

A strong G3 class geomagnetic storm could occur this Saturday, October 30th, when coronal mass ejection (CME) from the solar eruption that occurred on Thursday, the 28th, type X1, reach Earth’s magnetic field.

But before we notice this geomagnetic event, it is worth explaining what is at issue. Coronal Mass Ejections (EMC) consist of the release of large amounts of matter from the solar atmosphere, from the Sun’s corona during strong, long-lasting solar eruptions and result from large-scale magnetic instabilities. They are one of the most spectacular events in solar activity, expelling billions of tons of plasma, as well as their encrusted magnetic fields, into space.

Storms like this, scheduled for October 30, could trigger auroras that can be seen with the naked eye as far south as Illinois and Oregon (typically 50° geomagnetic latitude) and photographic auroras at even lower latitudes. Minor storms of classes G1 and G2 may persist through Halloween. As for solar flares, these are massive bursts of radiation from the Sun that shoot radiation-laden particles out of the star.

According to NASA, flashes (flags) are classified in a letter system, with class C relatively weak, class M being moderate and class X being the strongest.

Yesterday a large class X solar flare was detected

On Thursday, October 28, Earth orbit satellites detected a class X1 solar flare of the Earth-oriented AR2887 sunspot. The explosion created a colossal ‘tsunami’ of plasma in the sun’s atmosphere.

According to Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) gives NOAA, a North American institution that monitors climate events in space, this occurred precisely at 4:35 pm (mainland Portugal time) when one of the strongest storms in the current climate cycle of the Sun reached its peak, leading to the aforementioned class X1 solar flare, one of the most powerful types.

The explosion also released an EMC into space. Strong Type II and Type IV radio emissions were reported by the United States Air Force (USAF)generated by an EMC that passed through the Sun’s atmosphere. the accelerated energetic particles at the forefront of an EMC attack have already reached Earth.

When will EMC itself arrive?

The radiation charged particles resulting from coronal mass ejection may reach Earth between Saturday and Sunday (30 and 31), according to the website SpaceWeather. As a result of this, there may be interference in radio and satellite communications, with overload of the North Pole auroras of the planet, which would cause intense lumination and probably magnificent images.

Recent data from SOHO coronagraphs will give you a more accurate forecast, so we recommend that you remain vigilant.

The said explosion caused a temporary but very strong radio blackout on the day-lit (sunlit) side of the Earth centered in South America.. Possibly, airplane pilots, sailors and radio broadcasters on the daylit side of the Earth may have noticed the odd propagation effects at frequencies below 30 MHz.

The Sun’s impact area is where the eruption becomes what we call “geoeffective”. With the active region facing Earth, any additional eruptions from sunspot AR2887 may be “geoeffective”.

It is possible that sunspot AR2887 is not yet over. The active region is directly facing the Earth, so any further eruption must be “geoeffective”. And what does it mean to be “geoeffective”? The Sun has the so-called “impact area” where the eruption can be what we call “geoeffective”, and which is located on the east side of the solar disk because events take a certain amount of time to leave the sun and hit us.

The impacts of a G3 storm on our technology are usually residual. However, a G3 storm has the potential to drive the aurora away from its normal polar abode and, if other factors combine, the aurora can be seen over the extreme Northeast, Midwest, and the state of Washington US USA.

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