Since mid-January, the Sun has behaved erratically, with flares and coronal mass ejections virtually every day. This indicates that some of those explosions have blasted in the general direction of Earth, suggesting that we're in for some solar storms.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center and the British Met Office have issued advisories for mild to moderate geomagnetic storms during the next few days.
Issuing Advisories
That doesn't mean we shouldn't be concerned; in fact, we've already been slammed by mild and moderate geomagnetic storms, rated G1 and G2 on the five-level solar storm scale, over the previous few days.
This level implies that high-frequency radio communications may be degraded at high latitudes, and satellites may require corrective steps owing to changes in drag. There might be power outages, and migratory animal movement could be disrupted. If the conditions are correct, satellites can also be knocked out of the sky.
Both the aurora borealis and the aurora australis may become more visible.
The British Met Office warned that two Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and a coronal hole high-speed stream are expected to arrive at Earth on the 13th and 14th of March, potentially enhancing the auroral oval. These light shows may be viewed as low as 55 degrees latitude at each pole.
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Solar Storms
Solar storms are a common occurrence in space weather, and they occur as our Sun becomes more active. CMEs and solar winds affect Earth's magnetic field and upper atmosphere. Both are currently taking place.
CMEs are very much what they say they are. The corona, or outermost portion of the Sun's atmosphere, bursts, launching plasma and magnetic fields into space. When a CME hits Earth, the solar ejecta collides with the Earth's magnetic field, causing a geomagnetic storm, also known as a solar storm.
Where Did Solar Winds Come From?
Solar winds originate in the Sun's corona's 'holes,' which are cooler, less concentrated plasma places with more open magnetic fields in the Sun's atmosphere. Solar winds may exit more easily in such open areas, sending electromagnetic radiation into space at incredible speeds; if the hole is facing Earth, those winds may come straight at us.
When charged particles from the Sun hit the Earth's atmosphere, they are directed to the poles along Earth's magnetic field lines, where they rain down and interact with molecules. This interaction ionizes the molecules and causes them to light, resulting in the aurora.
Aurora Forecast
According to Space Weather's aurora forecast, on the ten-point Kp index of geomagnetic activity, 14 and 15 March had maximum levels of Kp 6 and Kp 5, respectively. This implies there's a good chance of seeing brilliant, lively aurorae, as well as auroral coronae, so it's an excellent time to go skywatching.
It's no coincidence that the Sun has become more active recently. Our star has 11-year activity cycles with a distinct peak and trough, called solar maximum and solar minimum. When the Sun's magnetic poles swap places, the solar minimum occurs when the magnetic field of the Sun is at its lowest. The most recent solar minimum occurred in December of this year.
This suggests we're approaching solar maximum when the solar magnetic field is at its most powerful. Because the Sun's magnetic field regulates its activity, we may expect an increase in sunspots, solar flares, and CMEs. (Sunspots are tangles in the solar magnetic field that generate transitory areas of intense magnetic fields.)
What Happens if the Sun Reaches its Highest Pont?
Around July 2025, the Sun will reach its highest point. It's tough to anticipate how active a specific cycle will be, but there's evidence that we're about to enter the strongest cycle ever recorded.
Solar storms that are more strong can create more severe difficulties, so let's hope our star keeps it under wraps.
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