geomagnetic storms – pressnews

Hyperactive Sunspot Unleashes Most Powerful Solar Flare in Six Years

25Feb

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Technology

Hyperactive Sunspot Unleashes Most Powerful Solar Flare in Six Years

[ad_1] A recent surge of solar activity has captured the attention of astronomers and space weather enthusiasts alike, as a hyperactive sunspot unleashed its third X-class solar flare within a 24-hour period. This remarkable series of events marks the most potent solar eruption in six years, raising concerns about potential impacts on Earth's space environment.The latest flare, labeled X6, emerged from sunspot AR3590, a colossal dark patch on the surface of the Sun that spans several times the size of Earth. This eruption, which occurred on February 22nd, follows two earlier X-class flares recorded on February 21st, each with magnitudes of X1.8 and X1.7, respectively. However, the X6.3 flare dwarfs its predecessors, showcasing the Sun's most intense outburst since 2017. The significance...

Solar flare eruptions likely soon, but solar storms not seen hitting Earth over the weekend

1Oct

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Technology

Solar flare eruptions likely soon, but solar storms not seen hitting Earth over the weekend

[ad_1] This weekend promises a stark contrast to the geomagnetic fireworks we witnessed last week. Unlike the previous weekend, there are no looming Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) threatening Earth's magnetic field. Our planet's magnetosphere is expected to remain serene and undisturbed from any solar storm.According to a report by spaceweather.com, forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have revealed details of the sunspot AR3451, a newcomer on the solar stage, which has suddenly sprung to life. It has rapidly grown over the past 24 hours, boasting more than a dozen dark cores, two of which are larger than Earth itself. While magnetic observations of this sunspot are not conclusive due to its orientation away from Earth, it seems to possess a complex '...

Solar storm alert as CME approaches Earth! Will it spark a Geomagnetic storm today?

28Sep

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Technology

Solar storm alert as CME approaches Earth! Will it spark a Geomagnetic storm today?

[ad_1] When Geomagnetic storms hit Earth, they have the potential to wreak havoc on technological instruments, if they are strong enough. If the initial solar storm churned up by the Sun is weak, it means the impact on Earth will be of much less severity. Although some of the sunspots on the solar surface never even explode, it is important to know the potential impact of such an intense explosion of solar matter. When the approaching CME interacts with Earth's magnetic field, it results in the formation of geomagnetic storms, which are rated on the basis of their intensity. G5-class Geomagnetic storms are the most potent geomagnetic events ever observed and they can send humanity back to the Middle Ages as far as technological prowess is concerned.Now, in a new development, forecasters...

Man films awesome aurora on a plane! Video is viral; know how a solar storm sparks this light show

1Sep

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Technology

Man films awesome aurora on a plane! Video is viral; know how a solar storm sparks this light show

[ad_1] Auroras, commonly known as Northern Lights, are a rare sky phenomenon that result in stunning streaks of colourful light in the sky near the polar regions. However, there are instances where these flashing lights have also appeared across the world, especially if the solar storm that causes them is of strong intensity. Recently, people on a flight to Europe bore witness to a mesmerizing aurora that was snapped by a user, and the social media post has gone viral since then.Auroras captured on a flightInstagram user Vincent Ledvina, who calls himself ‘The Aurora Guy', shared a breathtaking video of auroras that were seen during a flight. In an Instagram post, Ledvina wrote, “Have you ever seen the northern lights from a plane!?” The mesmerizing auroras were snapped as the plane cro...

Fiery Earth-facing sunspots could unleash M-class solar flares

21Aug

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Technology

Fiery Earth-facing sunspots could unleash M-class solar flares

[ad_1] The Sun has been displaying its might over the last few months, and its activity is expected to increase as we move towards the peak of Solar Cycle 25, which is likely to be in 2025. During its 11-year cycle, the Sun unleashes CMEs, solar flares, solar storms, and other high energy particles which can damage electric infra on Earth. Although scientists now have the technology to predict most of these events, this cycle's activity has already exceeded the maximum threshold which was predicted earlier. As per a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report, the number of sunspots seen in this cycle has surpassed the expectations from the solar maximum, nearly two years ahead of schedule. Experts have now shed light on two sunspots that recently hurled out solar flar...

Sun spits out solar flare so terrifying it is comparable to a billion bombs

18Aug

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Technology

Sun spits out solar flare so terrifying it is comparable to a billion bombs

[ad_1] In a recent occurrence, the Sun displayed unusual tranquility, following a period of potentially hazardous solar storm activity directed towards Earth the previous week. Solar physicist Keith Strong shared observations revealing that despite the calm on Earth, the Sun's surface was far from peaceful. And it proved that with a super-powerful solar flare.According to Strong's post, the Sun remained devoid of significant flares (>C5) for the longest duration since March. The report noted 11 spot regions and a Sunspot number of up to 155, along with the occurrence of 4 Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). Understanding the Sunspot number:To comprehend the ionospheric characteristics relevant to high-frequency propagation, knowledge of current solar activity levels is crucial. Traditiona...

What is autumnal Equinox and how is it connected to solar storms?

25Jul

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Technology

What is autumnal Equinox and how is it connected to solar storms?

[ad_1] Have you ever heard of Equinoxes? During this time, the Sun shines directly at the equator and the length of day and night becomes equal at all latitudes. During Equinoxes, the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun.There are only two times in a year when Equinoxes occur. The Equinox which occurs during the autumn, is known as the autumnal equinox. This day usually occurs in mid-September. Increase in solar activityDuring the past week, the Earth experienced a series of impactful events caused by the Sun, including two distinct solar storms and several radio blackouts. This heightened solar activity has been among the most active since April, leading researchers to believe that the Sun is entering a phase of increased intensity as we approach the autumnal equ...

Solar flares alert: Russian scientists warn of communication chaos on Earth today!

17Jul

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Technology

Solar flares alert: Russian scientists warn of communication chaos on Earth today!

[ad_1] Russian scientists have issued a warning that powerful solar flares observed on July 16, 2023, may cause disruptions to communications on Earth today. According to a report by news agency Reuters, the Fedorov Institute of Applied Geophysics in Moscow has highlighted the potential for X-class solar flares, including proton flares, which could interfere with short-wave communications.Solar flares occur when the magnetic field lines near sunspots, cooler regions on the Sun's surface, overlap and release a sudden burst of energy. Among these flares, X-class flares are the most potent. Flares are categorized based on their strength, with B, C, M, and X representing increasing levels of intensity. An X-class flare is approximately 10 times stronger than an M-class flare and 100 times s...

G1-class Geomagnetic storm set to hit Earth as NOAA warns of cannibal CME

16Jul

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Technology

G1-class Geomagnetic storm set to hit Earth as NOAA warns of cannibal CME

[ad_1] NOAA has warned that the progress of Solar Cycle 25 has surpassed scientific predictions, indicating a notably greater number of sunspots and solar storm eruptions than initially predicted by experts, and that forecast may not be very good news for Earth. The cycle began in December 2019 along with a significant surge in solar activity. Over a period of time, we have witnessed numerous dangerous solar storms striking Earth. Recently, on July 14th, the most visually dramatic eruptions of Solar Cycle 25 occurred on the surface of the Sun emitting dark plasma from the Sun's southern hemisphere, a SpaceWeather.com report revealed. Surprisingly, this explosion originated within the magnetic canopy of AR3370, a previously hidden and subtle-sized sunspot. One of these coronal mass eject...

Solar storm warning: NASA turns to AI for help

9Jul

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Technology

Solar storm warning: NASA turns to AI for help

[ad_1] NASA's AI-enabled predictions can offer advance notice for solar storms, providing crucial preparation time to protect power grids and crucial infrastructure. The AI model can forecast the location of an upcoming solar storm with a 30-minute lead time by examining spacecraft data of the solar wind.Solar storms are intense disturbances caused by the sudden release of energy from the Sun. These storms have a significant impact on Earth's space environment, disrupting satellite communication, power grids, and navigation systems. Now, NASA has leveraged the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve our understanding and forecast of solar storms. Understanding Solar Storms and their impactThe Sun constantly emits solar material, which includes a steady stream known as "solar wi...