Earth struck by solar storm, coronal hole may cause further geomagnetic disturbances
After a quiet period, the Sun has lashed out again with a coronal mass ejection. Minor to moderate geomagnetic storms were observed on 23 and 24 March. More solar turbulence can be expected in the days ahead.
New Delhi: Minor to moderate geomagnetic storming was observed over 23 and 24 March because of a Coronal Hole aimed straight at the Earth, and a Coronal Mass Ejection striking a blow. According to the forecast of the Space Weather Prediction Centre (SWPC) operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “Solar wind speeds gradually decreased from a peak near 480 km/s to around 400 km/s”. A Coronal Mass Ejection that left the Sun on 22 March may provide a glancing blow to the Earth over 24-25 March. The waning influence of the Coronal Hole High Speed Stream is expected to continue. There can be minor to moderate geomagnetic storming over the next two days.
The NOAA actually issued a strong geomagnetic storm alert, but the actual storming was not so violent. Coronal Holes are large, dark regions on the Sun where the particles from the Solar Atmosphere stream out in a steady stream, faster than the background solar wind, but not as violent and chaotic as Coronal Mass Ejections. Coronal Mass Ejections are violent outbursts associated with filament eruptions and solar flares, that suddenly launch large fragments of the Solar Atmosphere outwards into space. This magnetized cloud of charged particles from the Sun induces geomagnetic storming on encountering the geomagnetic field of the Earth.
Space Weather Forecast
According to the forecast of the Solar Influences Data Analysis Centre operated by the Royal Observatory for Belgium, “The solar wind speed and magnetic field are expected be enhanced over the next 24 hours due to the expected high-speed stream associated with the negative polarity coronal hole which began to cross the central meridian March 19 and due to possible arrival of the CME from 21 March.” According to the forecast of the UK Met Office, “Quiet to Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are likely initially, before rising to G1-G2/Minor-Moderate storming following any CME arrival on Day 1 (24 Mar), with a slight chance of G3/Strong storming. There is a further chance of G1/Minor storms from late Day 2 (25 Mar) onwards due to the arrival of the HSS from CH25/+.”
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