A geomagnetic storm is likely to hit Earth on Wednesday, Feb 9, and Thursday, Feb. 10, after space weather authorities issued a geomagnetic storm watch on Tuesday, Feb. 8.
The geomagnetic storm will be caused by the ongoing Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) headed towards Earth from our Sun.
Our Sun recently released a solar flare which triggered a CME.
It has been known that a CME can cause a geomagnetic storm-which has the potential to disrupt Earth's magnetic field, disrupting our technological signals and digital communications.
Coronal Mass Ejection
On Tuesday evening, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a fresh Geomagnetic Storm Watch - Category G1 for Wednesday and Thursday.
The Geomagnetic Storm Watch - Category 1 (Class G1) pertains to a minor event that a CME from our Sun that will hit Earth's magnetic field-causing a geomagnetic storm that can disrupt Earth's satellite signal, internet, and radio communications.
The CME headed for Earth was caused by a solar flare due to a solar storm in our Sun on Sunday, Feb. 6.
CME is the sudden and violent release of gas and magnetic fields from the Sun's outer solar atmosphere, the corona, as per the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Also read: Solar Storm Incoming: Bursts of Solar Winds Bound to Pass Earth
Geomagnetic Storm Watch (Class G1)
According to the NOAA - SWPC, category 1 or class G1 of the issued geomagnetic storm watch is the lowest out of the 5 levels on their geomagnetic storm or solar storm scale.
The NOAA - SWPC described the class G1 level as a minor impact, which is the opposite end of the G5 extreme impact on the scale.
A class G1 level means that weak power grid fluctuations can happen on Earth's power systems. There is a minor impact on spacecraft satellite operations.
Furthermore, migratory animals can also be affected due to the occurrence of visible aurora at high latitudes, including in Michigan and Maine in the US.
Specifically, the CME will have a potential impact in poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude, wherein areas within this location may experience power outages, signal irregularities, and radio communication failure.
Sun and the Solar Storm Phenomenon
Our solar system's Sun consists of highly condensed gas and magnetic fields.
According to NASA, these magnetic fields often shift and cause the phenomenon.
The Sun is the main cause of both space weather in our solar system and weather in our planet due to the heat and energy it releases.
Solar storms in the Sun consist of many eruptions, including solar flares and CME.
A solar flare is a flash of light from the Sun and can last from minutes to hours.
Meanwhile, NASA defines a CME as a large cloud of magnetized particles which travels slower than the speed of light but can cause a geomagnetic storm on Earth.
Related article: Solar Storm Alert: Charged Particles from Sun May Sideswipe Earth This Week
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