فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a warning for a “G4” level geomagnetic storm, described as “severe,” expected to impact Earth starting today, Sunday, June 1st. This storm is a result of a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) that erupted from the sun on the evening of May 30th.
The geomagnetic storm levels are anticipated to gradually subside by Tuesday, June 3rd. Geomagnetic storms, also known as magnetic storms, are classified on NOAA’s scale from “G1” (minor) to “G5” (extreme), meaning a “G4” class storm is considered quite strong.
What is a Geomagnetic Storm and How Does It Form?
A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is a massive solar explosion that releases large quantities of high-energy charged subatomic particles from the sun. The speed of these eruptions can range from less than 250 kilometers per second to nearly 3,000 kilometers per second, and these emissions can carry billions of tons of plasma (hot, charged particles).
When a CME is directed towards Earth, it can lead to geomagnetic storms, which are disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field. These disturbances are responsible for the phenomenon of the aurora borealis and australis (the Northern and Southern Lights), produced by the interaction of charged particles with Earth’s magnetosphere. This is why astrophotography enthusiasts often eagerly await such events to capture stunning images of the aurora.
It’s worth noting that on May 10, 2024, Earth experienced the strongest geomagnetic storm in over 20 years, known as the “Gannon storm,” which provided NASA with new insights into the sun’s effects on Earth and technology.
Potential Impacts on Infrastructure
Although geomagnetic storms don’t alter daily weather patterns, like temperature or rainfall, and pose no direct threat to human health, they can affect several key sectors, necessitating early warnings. These potential impacts include:
- Aviation Sector: Potential disruptions to communication and navigation systems.
- Satellites: Increased drag on satellites and disturbances to their orbits, with the possibility of guidance issues.
- Power Grids: Voltage irregularities and potential damage to transformers, which could sometimes lead to power outages.
In this context, agencies responsible for these sectors take precautions and follow contingency plans in case of disruptions to ensure the continuity of normal operations as much as possible.
Solar Activity Cycle and Expected Storms
The solar activity cycle is a period that repeats approximately every 11 years, during which solar activity levels fluctuate from their minimum to maximum states. Currently, we are in a period of maximum activity in Solar Cycle 25, which began in December 2019.
During this period of maximum solar activity, the number of sunspots and magnetic activity on the sun increases, leading to a rise in CMEs and solar flares. Since this phenomenon recurs approximately every 11 years, more such storms are expected to hit Earth this year. The large storm in May 2024 led to increased satellite drag, affected power grids and navigation systems, and NASA observed the formation of two temporary radiation belts between the Van Allen belts. While this was believed to pose a risk to satellites and astronauts, it did not impact Earth’s weather or human health.
