TechG4 geomagnetic storm hits. Experts:
G4 geomagnetic storm hits. Experts:
The Space Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences announced on Sunday that a geomagnetic storm had reached a G4 level on a five-point scale. This increase in solar activity is part of what is known as the solar maximum, a period we are gradually entering. Helena Ciechowska, from the Heliogeophysical Forecast Center at the SRC of the PAS, highlights the likelihood of more vivid displays in the sky, making it an excellent time for observation.
The significant geomagnetic storm, registering at G4 on the five-point scale, may cause disturbances to power grids and issues with tracking satellites in Earth's orbit. Additionally, the Northern lights could become visible across Poland, as noted by the Space Research Center of the PAS.
In dialogue with WP Tech, Helena Ciechowska explained that the storm was sparked by an X1.2 class flare late on the night of March 22 into March 23. This event brought about the auroras, with a related coronal mass ejection reaching us by Saturday. This prompted a G2 (moderate) storm, which made the auroras visible, particularly in northern Poland and coastal towns. Yet, the activity did not stop there; by Sunday, the geomagnetic storm hit the G4 category.
The American service Space Weather, focused on monitoring space phenomena, stated that the storm on March 24 was the strongest recorded since September 2017. According to recent updates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), while the impacts of the CME are diminishing, the solar wind speed remains high, indicating the potential for more geomagnetic storms. It's crucial to remember that coronal mass ejections are massive plasma clouds, significantly larger than Earth, traveling at speeds of up to about 1,242 miles per second.
### The Sun's Impact on Technology
Our star's activity, coinciding with the peak of the 25th solar cycle, can have tangible effects despite its distance of approximately 93 million miles from Earth. Helena Ciechowska reinforces this point.
The threat to technology arises from geomagnetic storms triggered by CMEs reaching Earth. The most critical are those at the G4 and G5 levels. G4 storms can damage satellites, disrupt radio communications, and interfere with GPS functionality. G5 events, the most severe, can temporarily disable radio communications, cause irrevocable harm to navigation systems, lead to power failures, and, in drastic scenarios, even paralyze the internet.
The infamous Carrington Event of 1859 holds the record for the most potent geomagnetic storm, named after Richard Carrington, a British astronomer who first observed a significant solar flare. That event, sparked by several sunspots comparable in total width to Jupiter, led to widespread auroras, along with failures and fires at numerous telegraph stations.
The specialist points out that initial predictions by SWPC NOAA anticipated the peak of the current solar cycle to fall between 2023 and 2026. We are now gradually approaching this peak, hinting at the likelihood of experiencing more geomagnetic storms and auroras, some of which may be visible from Poland.
