Severe Geomagnetic Storm To Hit Earth On July 3, NOAA Alerts

Earth Prepares for Minor Geomagnetic Storms from Solar Eruptions

Are we heading towards a Solar Maximum? The ongoing increase in solar activity seems to suggest so. Space weather experts have recently observed that two to three Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are expected to interact with Earth’s magnetic field soon. These CMEs were ejected from the Sun over the past few days and are predicted to reach Earth on July 3rd, according to spaceweather.com. If these predictions hold true, we might experience minor geomagnetic disturbances.

A CME is a significant release of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun’s outer layer, often following solar flares or filament eruptions. When CMEs head towards Earth, they can affect our planet’s magnetosphere, leading to geomagnetic storms. These storms can disrupt communication systems, navigation networks, and even power grids, although minor ones usually have limited effects.

Impact on Earth “G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are likely on July 3rd due to potential CME influence,” NOAA mentioned in its 3-day forecast. This particular CME was launched into space by a magnetic filament eruption in the Sun’s southern hemisphere. Such eruptions occur when magnetic field lines become twisted and break, releasing a massive amount of energy and solar material into space. The expected geomagnetic activity from this CME is classified as a G1-class storm, which is considered minor.

G1-class geomagnetic storms, while relatively weak, can still have some effects on Earth. These storms can cause weak power grid fluctuations or impact satellite operations, requiring potential orientation adjustments. If the storm lasts for a long time, there is a possibility that auroras will be visible at higher latitudes, extending to regions like Canada and northern parts of the United States.

The Abundance Of Sunspots We have already passed the first six months of 2024. According to a Spaceweather.com report, an amateur astronomer named Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau has compiled daily images of the Sun for all 182 days, revealing signs of Solar Maximum. The report suggests that the abundance of sunspots indicates we are nearing the peak of Solar Cycle 25.

Based on the images, sunspots are concentrated in two bands, one north and one south of the Sun’s equator, with the southern hemisphere having more sunspots than the north. Additionally, it has been revealed that the sunspot count was heavily influenced by a single massive southern sunspot (AR3664), which circled the Sun three times, tripling its contribution to the southern total.

However, Solar Maximum is far from over. Forecasters expect it to persist for 2 to 3 more years, and this is just the beginning!