"Strong" coronal mass ejections will hit Earth today causing auroras

Update — October 6, 2024 at 7:10 AM Eastern Time

The Sun has been acting up lately. Over the past 24 hours, it has unleashed several moderate-level solar flares. While solar flares are common, an increase like this grabs the attention of scientists and skywatchers alike.

A G3 geomagnetic solar storm watch remains in effect until October 7 in anticipation of the arrival of two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that left the sun on October 3, 2024, including one associated with the strongest x-class solar flare, an X9.0 flare event from the current Active Region on the Sun, AR 3842.

Hotspots on the Sun’s surface

Several active regions on the Sun are behind this uptick in activity. Region 3842, for example, has been quite the overachiever, producing multiple M-class flares.

These flares are moderate in intensity but can have noticeable effects here on Earth.

Another area, Region 3844, has also been busy, contributing its own set of flares. These regions are like solar hotspots where magnetic fields are especially tangled and volatile.

Why should we care?

You might be wondering, what’s the big deal about solar flares?

When the Sun releases these bursts of energy, they send streams of charged particles toward Earth. If these particles interact with our planet’s magnetic field, they can stir up geomagnetic storms.

While we might not feel these storms directly, they can disrupt satellite communications and GPS systems, and even affect power grids in extreme cases.

Geomagnetic storms on the horizon

According to space weather forecasts, there’s a good chance we’ll see strong geomagnetic storming on October 6th. The effects could linger into October 7th, albeit at a milder level.

Power grid operators and satellite companies are on alert, but it’s not all caution and concern. These storms can also enhance the auroras — the beautiful light displays often seen near the poles.

Watch for auroras

If you’ve ever wanted to catch the Northern Lights, this might be your chance. Geomagnetic storms can push the auroras farther south, making them visible in places where they usually aren’t.

So, keep an eye on the night sky over the next few days. Weather permitting, you might be treated to a spectacular show.

Staying informed

The Sun’s activity reminds us of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of our solar system.

While we go about our daily lives, there’s a whole lot happening 93 million miles away that can influence our technology and even the beauty of our night skies.

Maybe take a moment to step outside after dark this week. You never know what you might see.

Stay tuned to Earth.com and the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) for updates.

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Update — October 5, 2024 at 9:10 AM Eastern Time

The Sun continues to be more active than usual. According to the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) “solar activity was at moderate levels.”

A massive solar flare erupted from the sun on Thursday morning, sending waves of charged particles toward Earth.

Experts at the National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) reported that the flare, classified as an X9.0, occurred at 8:18 a.m. Eastern Time on October 3.

This comes just days after another significant flare from the same region on the sun, known as Active Region 3842.

One of the main culprits is Region 3842, which “grew in overall size, gained additional spots, and maintained its magnetic complexity as it continued to produce M-class activity.”

In plain English, this region is bustling with solar flares that can send charged particles hurtling through space.

Regions 3843, 3844, and 3848 are also stirring the pot. Region 3844, for instance, added an M1.1/Sf flare recently. These areas are like stormy patches on the Sun’s surface, and they’re keeping scientists on their toes.

What exactly is going on?

So, what’s the big deal with these solar flares and CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections)?

Think of solar flares as the Sun throwing a bit of a tantrum — sudden flashes that release a ton of energy. CMEs are like the Sun sneezing out huge clouds of plasma and magnetic fields.

The models suggest “a glancing blow from the M6 associated CME by late on Oct 6, 2024, with a possible combined arrival with the CME from the X9.0 on October 3, 2024.”

In other words, some of these solar sneeze particles might brush past Earth.

Possible effects on Earth

You might be thinking, “Should I be worried?” The good news is that our planet is pretty good at fending off these solar particles, thanks to its magnetic field.

However, the forecast indicates that “G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storming is likely on October 5-6, 2024 due to the aforementioned CME effects.”

This could mean some fantastic aurora displays — those beautiful northern and southern lights — showing up in places they usually don’t.

But there’s a flip side. Strong geomagnetic storms can mess with satellite communications, GPS signals, and even power grids. It’s a bit like cosmic interference.

So, while it’s not time to panic, it’s something that industries relying on these technologies are keeping an eye on.

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Get ready, sky watchers and tech enthusiasts! The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued G3 (Strong) Geomagnetic Storm alerts for October 4-6, 2024.

This alert comes as two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are expected to make their way to Earth this weekend.

A geomagnetic storm occurs when solar wind — a stream of charged particles from the Sun — collides with Earth’s magnetic field.

These storms can disrupt satellite operations, GPS systems, and even power grids. While they’re fascinating to observe, strong geomagnetic storms can have significant impacts on our daily lives.

X-class solar flares

A massive solar flare erupted from the sun on Thursday morning, sending waves of charged particles toward Earth.

This powerful burst of solar energy has scientists and space weather experts keeping a close eye on potential effects here on our planet, including auroras expected in the lower part of the United States.

Experts at the National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) reported that the flare, classified as an X9.0, occurred at 8:18 a.m. Eastern Time on October 3.

This comes just days after another significant flare from the same region on the sun, known as Active Region 3842.

Understanding solar flares

Solar flares are intense bursts of radiation stemming from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots.

An X-class flare is among the most potent, capable of causing significant disturbances to Earth’s magnetosphere, which can affect satellite operations, communications, and even power grids.

The recent X9.0 flare is notable because it’s one of the strongest we’ve seen in this solar cycle. For context, only an X8.7 flare on May 14, 2024 surpassed it in intensity.

“Solar activity reached high levels with six M-class flares and one X-class flare,” noted the Space Weather Prediction Center. “The X9.0 occurred at 8:08 a.m. from Region 3842.”

Two incoming CMEs

According to the SWPC forecasters, “When these CMEs arrive at Earth, strong geomagnetic storms are likely to occur. Watches of this length and magnitude are infrequent, but not uncommon.”

These two CMEs were spotted off the southwest limb of the Sun at specific times:

• The first CME was observed at 03/2036 UTC, linked to an M6/2b flare at 03/2028 UTC.

• The second CME came from a different flare, an M4/1n, observed at 04/0455 UTC.

Both eruptions originated from Region 3842, a sunspot area known for its activity. Preliminary models suggest that the first CME might give Earth a “glancing blow” on October 7.

Tracking the sunspots

Sunspots are cooler areas on the Sun’s surface with intense magnetic activity. The regions mentioned — 3842, 3844, 3841, 3843, and the newly numbered 3849 — are all areas of interest for scientists monitoring solar activity.

These regions fluctuate in activity, with some growing, others decaying, and new ones emerging, like Region 3849.

Solar wind activity

Solar wind speeds have been steady, ranging from 300-400 km/s. The total magnetic field has varied between 3-8 nanoteslas (nT), with the Bz component fluctuating between +6 and -5 nT.

These parameters are expected to stay normal until the CMEs start their journey toward Earth, bringing disturbances as they arrive.

What to expect this weekend

The SWPC forecast indicates that the first CME might reach Earth on October 4, with the second following about 24 hours later.

This close arrival could dampen the solar winds initially, but expect a surge when the second CME hits. The geomagnetic field might spike to G3 levels, and in some cases, even reach G4 (Severe).

“The current geomagnetic forecast follows the CME driven WSA-Enlil run initialized at 03/1700 UTC on the SWPC website,” the forecasters explained.

This model predicts a narrow 24-hour window between the two CME arrivals, but there’s a margin of error of about ±8 hours due to speed variations.

Potential impacts

Strong geomagnetic storms can lead to beautiful auroras, visible even in lower latitudes than usual. However, they can also disrupt communication systems and navigation satellites.

Power grids might experience fluctuations, and pipelines could see increased corrosion rates. It’s a mixed bag of natural beauty and technological challenges.

Stay informed and prepared

As the weekend approaches, keep an eye on updates from the SWPC. “Stay tuned for updates as we monitor this activity!” the forecasters urged. Whether you’re a space enthusiast or concerned about potential tech disruptions, staying informed is key.

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