A powerful geomagnetic storm could cause the Aurora Borealis to be visible from the Northern US this week.
A series of geomagnetic disturbances that left the sun and traveled toward our planet in recent days. These could allow residents in the Northern Hemisphere to observe a light show in the form of the stunning Aurora Borealis.
Powerful Geomagnetic Storm
A powerful geomagnetic storm is expected to result in stunning Aurora Borealis that could be visible to residents in the Northern U.S. (not actual photo)
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center said that solar storm influences from what are known as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) as well as a Coronal Hole High-Speed Stream have already arrived on Earth on Sunday. It noted that the effects of such will last through Friday evening.
On early Sunday morning, residents from Maine, Washington, and Wyoming have already reported seeing aurora lights. Forecasters with the National Weather Service in Riverton, Wyoming, shared images of the glowing amber sky that was taken on early Sunday.
The dancing lights were also observed from the outskirts of Seattle and Skunkbay Weather captured the green hues on early Sunday. Officials issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch just before the arrival of the event and warned of the potential interference with communication systems and spacecraft operations, as per the New York Post.
NOAA's SWPC also said that moderate G2 storms were observed on Sunday and are more likely than not to continue Sunday night into Monday. If experts from the agency believe that the event could be stronger than originally anticipated, the current alert could be upgraded to a higher-level warning.
In times of the most significant geometric storms, people could expect to experience widespread power outages and officials warn that communication systems are subject to failure. In a statement, the SWPC said that solar magnetic variability regulates the frequency and severity of space weather events and hazards.
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Stunning Aurora Borealis
It noted that these could interfere with the electrical grid, degrade GPS signals, increase the orbital drag on satellites, and pose radiation hazards to airline crews and astronauts. In 2022, a failure to anticipate the strength of a geomagnetic storm was believed to have led to the loss of more than three dozen SpaceX satellites that became inoperable and burned up in Earth's atmosphere.
For people who are eager to observe the stunning northern lights, they could take a look north from a dark sky site with a clear horizon. They might be able to detect some color in the sky if Aurora were present but they would most likely be located low on the northern horizon, according to WTOP News.
Photographers can also use a camera or smartphone that is capable of taking exposures of several seconds. This includes using "Night Sky" or "Low Light" settings if they are available. For the best image result, you should use a tripod to steady the camera.
Experts have previously admitted that determining the exact strength of the activity can be quite challenging. During the latest event, experts from the SWPC expect parts of the globe to once again reach at least a level 7 out of 9 on the Kp Index scale on Sunday night, said Fox Weather.
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