By Earth Braces for G1-class Geomagnetic Storm Disturbance
The solar activity since the beginning of this month is raising concerns for earthlings. Recent solar activity has heightened interest among space weather enthusiasts and scientists. NOAA forecasters have reported that minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are expected on May 20th, 2024, due to a coronal mass ejection (CME), expected to graze Earth’s magnetic field. Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun‘s corona, which can release billions of tons of solar material into space at high speeds, and when directed toward Earth, they can cause geomagnetic storms.
As per a spaceweather.com report, this CME was spewed by an M7-class solar flare on May 17th. This flare was substantial, marking one of the more powerful recent events in solar activity. The source of this activity is active region AR 13685.
Earlier, on May 15th, this same region produced an even more intense X2.9-class flare. According to Halo CME on the social media platform X, “The region that produced the X2.9 flare on 2024-05-15 is now AR 13685. Two days later we see an M7.2 flare. Like the previous flare, the CME volume expanded more radially than laterally, leaving only a weak global coronal wave.”
Geomagnetic Storm To Hit Earth?NOAA’s forecast indicates that the Earth could experience minor geomagnetic storms classified as G1 today on May 20th. However, it must be noted that G1-class storms are the lowest on the geomagnetic storm scale, but they can still produce adverse effects sometimes. These effects may include minor radio blackouts and visible auroras at higher latitudes.
The upcoming geomagnetic storm is expected because the CME’s path will likely result in a glancing blow to Earth’s magnetic field. NOAA has also confirmed the expected geomagnetic storm hit today.
The Most Intense Solar Storm in Decades: How NASA Tracked ItMay 2024 has been stormy for the Sun. In early May, large solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) created the strongest solar storm in 20 years. Starting on May 7, multiple X-class flares and CMEs hit Earth, peaking with an X8.7 flare on May 14. The CMEs caused a geomagnetic storm rated G5, the highest level since 2003.
This storm produced brilliant auroras visible globally, even in the southern U.S. and northern India. The strongest auroras appeared on May 10 and continued through the weekend. Thousands of reports to the Aurorasaurus site are helping scientists study the event.
