FLORIDA – Sun storm originating from the fissure of a giant fiery canyon filament in the sun, is expected to hit Earth on 20 or 21 July 2022 and triggers a weak geomagnetic storm (G1). Scientists have not been able to determine how big the impact of solar wind bursts called coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that hurtle toward Earth.
According to SpaceWeather.com, observers first saw the solar filament as a dark, thread-like streak against the bright background of the sun on July 12, 2022. Then, on July 15, a filament snaking in the star’s northern hemisphere erupted.
The eruption reached a length of about 384,400 kilometers and a depth of 20,000 km in the “canyon of fire” of the sun’s surface and spewed solar material right toward Earth. “Long filaments like snakes roll from the Sun in an amazing ballet,” said Tamitha Skov, a space weather physicist.
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He admitted that the magnetic orientation of the solar storm towards Earth would be difficult to predict. “G2 (perhaps G3) level conditions can occur if the storm’s magnetic field is oriented south! For the record, solar storms categories G2 and G3 are considered moderate and strong storms.
Solar filaments are large arcs of electric gas (or plasma) that propagate through the sun’s atmosphere according to the star’s strong magnetic field. These giant magnetic tubes can hold enormous masses of plasma above the sun’s surface, and are also very unstable.
Solar filaments explode over the sun’s northern hemisphere. Photo/Solar Dynamics Observatory NASA
Once collapsed, they can launch bursts of solar wind called coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that hurtle toward Earth. On planets that have strong magnetic fields, such as planet Earth, the magnetic field absorbs a barrage of solar debris from the CME, triggering powerful geomagnetic storms.
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Fortunately, the solar storm this time came from a weak filament. Classified as a G1 solar storm, this storm has the potential to cause grid fluctuations and affect some satellite functions. Including for mobile devices and GPS systems, but not dramatically. This solar storm will also send auroras as far south as Michigan and Maine, USA.
These storms come as the sun rises to the most active phase of the solar cycle of about 11 years. This is the second solar storm to hit Earth in 24 hours.
(Web)
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