G2 Geomagnetic Storm Watch Wednesday
Space Weather Prediction Center Issues Moderate Geomagnetic Storm Watch for Wednesday
The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) has issued a G2 geomagnetic storm watch for July 24. A solar storm of this intensity may affect high-frequency radio, but only at higher latitudes.
The watch is the result of a plume of plasma known as a coronal mass ejection (CME) released from the sun on July 21 that is now heading toward Earth. It is due to arrive on Wednesday. Watches of this level are not uncommon, SWPC said.
G2 geomagnetic storms can have the following effects, according to the SWPC.
-- Power systems: High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms; long-duration storms may cause transformer damage.
-- Spacecraft operations: Corrective actions to orientation may be required by ground control; possible changes in drag affect orbit predictions.
-- Other systems: High-frequency (HF) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes, and an aurora has been seen as low as New York and Idaho. HF radio is a high-frequency radio wave sometimes known as shortwaves. Radio is a form of electromagnetic radiation that propagates as a wave at the speed of light. Radio propagation is the process of transmitting radio waves from one location to another.
Eruptions of plasma, magnetic field structures and sudden bursts of radiation, solar flares, erupt from sunspots and can cause geomagnetic storms. CMEs take one to five days to reach Earth.
A G2 geomagnetic storm, such as the one currently predicted, is rated as moderate on SWPC geomagnetic storms scale that rates storm events from G1 (minor) up to G5 (extreme). Several G4 and G5 storms were recorded in May. They were blamed for the widespread failure of navigation systems across North America.
Humans have been observing sunspots directly since the 1750s. The peak of sunspot activity is known as solar maximum, and the lull is known as solar minimum. Maximums and minimums occur on average in 11-year cycles. Earth is approaching the peak of the current solar maximum. It should occur next year, in 2025.
During sunspot maximums, the Earth experiences an increase in the Northern and Southern Lights, and disruptions to radio transmissions, power grids, and numerous GPS-backed technologies.
Dan Miller can be reached at dan.miller@dtn.com
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