Severe Solar Storm Pummels Earth

Severe Geomagnetic Storm May Affect Satellite-Based Navigation Friday

Dan Miller
By  Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor
This image of the sun on Friday was produced by the GOES 16 satellite. The GOES 16 and 17 spacecraft each carry an extreme ultraviolet telescope called the Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI). This telescope allows forecasters to monitor the sun's hot outer atmosphere, or corona. (DTN image courtesy of Space Weather Prediction Center)
This image of the sun on Friday was produced by the GOES 16 satellite. The GOES 16 and 17 spacecraft each carry an extreme ultraviolet telescope called the Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI). This telescope allows forecasters to monitor the sun's hot outer atmosphere, or corona. (DTN image courtesy of Space Weather Prediction Center)

CHELSEA, Ala. (DTN) -- The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) earlier on Friday issued a minor, G1 geomagnetic storm watch. Now, SWPC is reporting a much stronger G3 storm, evolving into a G4 (severe) storm. Both levels of geomagnetic storms can and do affect satellite-based navigation, perhaps for hours at a time.

SWPC described the G3 event in detail: "G3 (Strong) storm conditions were reached about 9:28 a.m. EDT on June 28. The increased geomagnetic activity was in response to the arrival of a coronal mass ejection (CME) that departed the sun on June 25. The CME was associated with a large filament eruption and analysis indicated a possible Earth arrival as a glancing blow today (Friday).

"Indeed, a disturbance in the solar wind was observed by an observation satellite 1 million miles from Earth at 5:12 a.m. EDT. This was the leading edge of the CME, and when it arrived at Earth, geomagnetic conditions quickly intensified and eventually reached G3 levels. The G3 Warning is in effect until 5 p.m. EDT, as CME passage is anticipated to continue through the day. There will likely be variable conditions of geomagnetic response during CME progression, so continue to monitor our SWPC webpage for the latest information and updates."

A G3 storm typically results in intermittent satellite navigation and low-frequency radio navigation problems. An aurora has been seen as low as Illinois and Oregon.

A few minutes after its initial report, SWPC reported the geomagnetic storm had reached level G4, or "severe." A G4 storm typically affects HF radio, satellite navigation can be degraded for hours, low-frequency radio navigation is disrupted, and an aurora may be seen as low as Alabama and northern California.

You can follow Friday's solar events by going to the Space Weather Prediction Center at www.swpc.noaa.gov.

Dan Miller can be reached at dan.miller@dtn.com

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Dan Miller

Dan Miller
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