Posted on 01/22/2024 8:03:44 AM PST by Red Badger
A large geomagnetic storm is expected to hit the Earth’s atmosphere later today and disrupt radio and GPS, according to models by both NASA and NOAA.
The flare was spat out from the sun’s surface on Sunday, with the coronal mass ejection (CME) set to collide with the Earth at around 1 p.m. ET,
Experts have warned that the CME collision could lead to G2-class or even G3-class storms, triggering GPS issues and satellite problems.
Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov posted on X, formerly Twitter:
“Direct Hit! An impressive #solarstorm launch in the Earth-strike zone means a new chance for #aurora by midday Jan 22. We could see a G2-G3 with this one if the magnetic field of the storm is oriented correctly. Amateur radio & #GPS users, expect disruptions on Earth’s nightside.”
As Newsweek reported:
“CMEs are triggered by magnetic activity on the sun’s surface flinging out huge volumes of solar plasma. This cloud, if aimed toward the Earth, approaches our planet in around 48 to 72 hours, though some can arrive much sooner. When the plume collides with the Earth’s magnetic field, it can cause disturbances that trigger a geomagnetic storm.”
“Geomagnetic storms are measured on a scale of their strength, from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme), according to NOAA. The strength of the storm depends on the power of the CME that triggers it, with more powerful storms being rarer: per 11-year solar cycle, the Earth can expect around 1700 G1 storms, but only about 100 G4 storms and a mere 4 G5 storms during that same period.”
The upcoming solar storm is predicted to be G2, with a chance of G3, which can result in strange impacts across Earth.
The flares are expected to affect power grids radio wave transmissions, and also satellites orbiting close to the Earth may experience increased drag.
“Whilst these storms cannot harm us or nature directly, they are disruptive and potentially very damaging to technology,” Huw Morgan, head of the Solar Physics group at Aberystwyth University in the United Kingdom, told Newsweek.
“Electric currents are induced in Earth’s crust, and this can cause surges and damage to power grids. Communications can be disrupted, and GPS navigation. Air flights at high latitudes are prone to radiation doses, requiring cancellation or rerouting. And there’s a danger to satellites and astronauts.”
Large geomagnetic storms can cause auroras to be seen further south from the North Pole, with Northern Lights visible from Illinois and Oregon.
This is due to the plasma reaction with charged particles in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing gases like nitrogen and oxygen to glow.
“The magnetic disruption penetrates further into Earth’s magnetosphere, and a larger amount of space plasma is injected into Earth’s system, and this can also reach lower latitudes,” Morgan said.
“This energetic plasma interacts with molecules in Earth’s atmosphere, causing the lights. In a very large storm in 1859 (the Carrington event), the lights were seen at the equator and were very bright.”
Oh no, how will Gen Zers be able to get around?
Lol.
Truth.
YAWN
They can all crawl under their beds and curl up in the fetal position....................
Cool! Can’t wait!
When’s the next one?!
Buy toilet paper!
(just kidding)
Just great! I’m sitting in the San Jose Airport at this very moment and my flight departs at 10:05 am, five minutes after the geomagnetic storm hits. I planned to go to Spokane. I wonder where we might land instead.
Albuquerque...................
Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!
They’ll take a left turn at Albuquerque...probably wind up in Canada 😎
I wouldn’t do any flying today if I were you...................
Just saw a flying saucer zip by and it seemed to be doing fine...
Just check "SolarHam.com", they have all the info:
https://www.solarham.net/index.htm 
Solar activity finally reached moderate levels with an M1.5 solar flare around AR 3559 at 06:22 UTC (Jan 22). The active regions has a beta-gamma magnetic configuration and will remain a threat for additional solar flares. In the southwest quadrant, AR 3561 appears to be expanding somewhat and should be monitored as well. Proton levels streaming past Earth is currently at an elevated level, but so far remains below the minor (S1) radiation storm threshold for now. This rise is attributed to the CME activity from the past few days.
Incoming CME Watch: A reminder that a CME observed leaving the Sun on Jan 20 is expected to pass Earth today. A minor (G1) to moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm watch is in effect for the next 24-36 hours.
A filament eruption this morning was observed in the southeast quadrant beginning around 08:45 UTC (Jan 20). The event looks to be responsible for a faint, partial halo coronal mass ejection (CME) that is now visible in the latest coronagraph imagery. Based on the location of the event, it may have a partial Earth directed component. If so, an impact past Earth may be possible within 48-72 hours.
More to follow. UPDATE:: The official CME tracking model has been updated and shows the eruption on Saturday passing Earth sometime on Monday. Minor (G1) to Moderate (G2) geomagnetic storming is currently expected once the CME impacts Earth's geomagnetic field. Visible aurora will be possible at higher latitudes.
Filament Eruption and CME (1/20/2024) - SolarHam.com (youtube video link)
Force field protection...............
Shades of 1859! That would make life real interesting.
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