On Saturday (Sept. 16), a massive solar tendril known as a solar filament lashed out from the sun, launching a super-hot plasma eruption known as a coronal mass ejection (CME) toward Earth.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the United States has issued a G2-class moderate geomagnetic storm watch as it monitors the Earth-directed portion of the CME projected to hit on September 19.
Following the eruption of the solar flare, a Coronal Mass Ejection, or CME, was sent into space. This CME is a massive cloud of solar plasma made up of charged particles that is racing through space at incredible speeds. Everyone is wondering whether this solar storm will make contact with Earth.
Anticipating the course and timing of CMEs is a difficult task, but scientists are working hard to assess the situation. The main concern is whether this CME will have an impact on Earth. If so, it has the potential to cause:
Interaction with the Earth’s magnetic field can cause geomagnetic storms, which can damage satellite communications, GPS systems, and power grids.
Auroral Splendor: On a brighter side, the interaction of a CME with the Earth’s magnetic field can result in spectacular auroras observable at higher latitudes, putting on a celestial light display.
According to NOAA, the forecast G2 storm on Tuesday (Sept. 19) might cause significant auroral displays as well as a limited blackout of HF radio communication on the sunlit side and likely loss of radio contact for tens of minutes. Low-frequency navigation signals may also degrade lasting tens of minutes.