A solar wind stream unexpectedly hit Earth at 372 miles a second
It could be followed by another one today.
- Scores of solar scientists observe solar activity, but our star still manages to spring surprises.
- A G2-class geomagnetic storm can occur as many as 600 times in each solar cycle.
- Ground control may need to reorient satellites after such an event.
A solar wind stream that astronomers didn’t forecast hit our planet on August 7 at 372 miles (600 km) a second, Spaceweather.com has reported.
With the Sun now in its active phase of the 11-year solar cycle, the activity on its surface has increased. This means that astronomers see more sunspots, a mark of activity on the Sun’s surface, and the risks of solar storms and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have also increased.
In the past few months, we have seen sunspots grow to the size three times that of the Earth, and solar flares head toward our planet at colossal speeds. Over the years, solar scientists have gained a better understanding of how these events usually occur. However, at times, the Sun continues to surprise us as it did on August 7.
The unexpected solar wind that turned into a storm
Since scientists are constantly monitoring the solar surface, they have a fairly good idea about which solar winds are headed our way and which aren’t. Based on the data, they can also predict the strength of geomagnetic storms that result from these solar winds, full of highly energized particles ejected by the Sun.
However, on August 7, NASA’s Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) noticed solar winds with low velocity. As the day progressed, the solar wind speed increased significantly and went beyond 372 miles (600 km) a second. The result of these high-speed solar winds was a moderately strong geomagnetic storm.
The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration classifies geomagnetic storms on a scale of G1-G5, with G1 being the weakest while G5 being the most extreme form of the phenomenon. The event of August 7 was classified as a G2 event, which is described as a moderate one.
What can we expect in a moderate geomagnetic storm?
A moderate geomagnetic storm can occur as frequently as 600 times in a solar cycle, which lasts 11 years. Such a storm can give rise to voltage warnings in power systems at high latitudes. When a storm of such magnitude lasts for a long period of time, it has the potential to cause damage to transformers, the SWPC website states.
The major disturbance of the Earth’s magnetosphere during such an event can also lead to a change in the orientation of spacecraft. Last month, we covered how it could take weeks for satellites and space junk lost to a solar storm to be found again. While spacecraft that are in operation could possibly be reoriented by ground control, the same does not apply to other spacecraft.
Although there might not be completed radio blackouts during such an event, high-frequency radio communication can experience fading at high latitudes. The good thing to come out of the event is that auroras can be seen as low as New York and Idaho in the U.S.
According to Spaceweather.com, although the solar winds have subsided now, they could flare up again on August 8th, and G1-class geomagnetic storm can be expected today.
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