Earth experienced a powerful solar storm on Monday, bringing the mesmerizing northern lights, or aurora borealis, to locations further south than usual. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that a level-four geomagnetic storm began at 3 p.m., persisting for several hours without increasing in intensity.
NOAA highlighted that this severe geomagnetic storm could allow auroras to be visible as far south as Alabama and Northern California. These stunning light displays are the result of coronal mass ejections—explosions of particles from the sun—that disrupt Earth's magnetic field upon arrival.
Eric Lagadec, an astrophysicist at the Cote d'Azur Observatory in France, shared his excitement on X, noting the possibility of witnessing auroras tonight if the storm continues until nightfall. NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick also captured a breathtaking photo of the aurora from the International Space Station, showcasing the celestial phenomenon from above.
While the auroras provide a beautiful spectacle, severe solar storms can have adverse effects. They can degrade high-frequency communications, disrupt satellite operations, and cause overloads on the electricity grid. NOAA has alerted operators of sensitive infrastructure to implement measures mitigating these impacts.
This recent event follows a series of strong geomagnetic storms in May, the most powerful in two decades, which illuminated the night skies of the United States, Europe, and Australia at lower latitudes than usual. Such events are becoming more frequent as the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year activity cycle.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
