The Sun has been extremely active lately, triggering several solar storms that continue to disrupt the Earth’s magnetic field as of October 11, 2024 at 8:34 AM ET. Yesterday was a moderately active day for our Sun. The highlight of the event was the M3.0 flare that erupted from Area 3842 near the Sun’s southwestern edge. This is one of the most intense explosions of recent times.

Now, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), different parts of the Sun experience this activity in different ways. While District 3848 is showing some signs of decline, District 3854 is blooming like a sunflower. Areas 3849, 3850 and 3852 are stable, like that cool old uncle who never loses his temper.

Today, we are yet to see any new Earth-bound Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), large solar wind bursts, and magnetic fields that could put our planet in a bit of a pickle.

The next few days will be interesting because scientists predict that an X-class explosion could occur between October 11 and 13. It looks like a Hollywood movie, right? But these outbreaks can disrupt our communications and power grids, especially in high-latitude regions.

Solar particles from solar storms

The movement of electrons and protons, the busy little bees of solar particles, was also affected. The flow of electrons or flow of electrons is stable at this time. However, we may see increased activity over the next few days as our Sun becomes more intense.

But the real stealers of the show were the protons. The proton event began on October 9 and gradually declined after reaching its peak the next day. High levels of protons can harm satellites, astronauts and space missions. However, unless there is a new solar flare, predictions predict that we will avoid the proton splash.

Solar wind forecast

Everything happens faster here. A solar wind speed of 506 miles per second was recorded on October 10. This speed was discovered when the shock wave associated with CME’s arrival on October 9 was captured by the ACE spacecraft. Although experts predict a slowdown in these wind speeds, a new increase is expected due to the approach of the Coronal Hole High Speed ​​Flow (CH HSS). So fasten your seatbelts because everything will be active until October 13th.

Geomagnetic storms are on the way

Geomagnetic storms have been upgraded to Strong-Severe due to the CME that hit us on October 9th. These storms can disrupt our GPS systems, communications, and even power grids.

We’re likely to experience more “minor to severe” geomagnetic storms today, depending on how our planet’s magnetic field responds to the solar wind. Some calm can be expected until October 12, but minor disturbances may persist until October 13.

Over the last 24 hours, scientists have observed several moderate solar flares; The most important of these was the M3.0 explosion that occurred on October 10 at 18.46. According to the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), these bursts originated from a region designated 3842 in the Sun’s southern hemisphere.

Solar flares are bursts of radiation resulting from the release of magnetic energy. They are classified according to their strength; Class M flares are moderate but can cause brief radio blackouts and minor radiation storms at the poles.

Increased radiation level

After these explosions, the number of energetic particles entering the Earth’s atmosphere increased. On October 9, the proton level increased sharply and reached the so-called S3 (strong) radiation storm. Although these particles do not pose a direct threat to people on the ground, they can affect satellites and high-frequency radio communications.

Interestingly, the normal increase in electron level that we see during such events was suppressed. This is likely due to the arrival on October 10 of the Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), a powerful burst of solar wind and magnetic field that rises above the Sun’s corona or is ejected into space.

Solar wind is gaining speed

Data obtained from the ACE (Advanced Composition Explorer) spacecraft showed that the speed of the solar wind increased from approximately 400 kilometers per second to over 750 kilometers per second after the CME impact. This is a significant increase! This fluctuation can cause disturbances in Earth’s magnetosphere, the protective magnetic bubble around our planet.

The magnetic field carried by the solar wind also increased. When the southern component of this field aligns with the Earth’s magnetic field, it can create openings that allow solar particles to more easily enter our atmosphere.

Geomagnetic storms on the horizon

Because of these changes, we are experiencing severe geomagnetic storms. Experts predict conditions could reach levels G3-G4, which are classified as severe to severe storms today. This can cause aurorae (the beautiful northern and southern lights) to be seen at lower latitudes than normal.

But it’s not just about the light show. Such storms can affect power grids, navigation systems, and even pipelines. Airlines may reroute flights that normally fly over the poles to avoid communications disruptions.

Why should you care?

“Should I be worried?” you may ask. For most people, these solar events will not have a noticeable impact on daily life. However, if you are a radio amateur or rely on GPS for accurate timing and navigation, you may experience some glitches.

There may be short-term interruptions in satellite TV and Internet services. If skies are clear, people in southern Alabama and northern California may see the northern lights tonight.

Auroras occur when charged particles from the Sun interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, causing atoms in our atmosphere to emit light. These natural light displays are generally limited to the polar regions, but strong geomagnetic activity can push them towards the equator.

When will the solar storms subside?

Scientists expect solar wind and geomagnetic activity to remain high until October 11. Conditions will begin to soften by October 12 and minor storms may occur in the early hours.

Things are expected to calm down by October 13, but we may still see some unstable conditions due to ongoing impacts. It is also worth noting that there is a possibility that more moderate outbreaks will occur in the coming days, while another serious outbreak is less likely. The sun keeps us alive!