Experts say the auroras could be visible as far south as New York this weekend. (Photo: Brandon Rosenblum via Getty Images)
Skywatchers in 18 US states could see auroras in the coming days as a “moderate” geomagnetic storm affects the Earth's magnetic field starting Friday (June 13).
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center issued an early warning Wednesday (June 11) for a G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm to begin Saturday (June 14). On Friday, the center updated the warning, saying the storm could begin later in the day. The space event is expected to end Sunday (June 15) or Monday (June 16).
According to Spaceweather.com, the disturbance could develop into a G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm over the weekend, but that is not guaranteed. Some sources have also indicated that the storm could reach G4 (very strong). However, these reports likely arose from a misunderstanding regarding the explanations from the US Naval Research Laboratory about what happened during another G4 storm earlier this month, and the expected storm will not be as strong.
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Geomagnetic storms are disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field, or magnetosphere, caused by variations in the solar wind. They are usually caused by huge clouds of magnetized particles from solar flares known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs). In this case, the disturbance is caused by a region of interaction with a distorted flow – turbulence in the solar wind caused by fast-moving streams colliding with slower winds ahead of them – that originated from a large “coronal hole” on the Sun’s surface.
These disturbances can compress Earth’s magnetosphere, potentially causing widespread auroral displays at unusually low latitudes. They can also cause temporary disruptions to radio communications, damage terrestrial power infrastructure, and cause satellites to fall out of orbit as Earth’s atmosphere absorbs excess energy and expands. (Geomagnetic storms are classified on a scale that ranges their intensity from G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme) — which is extremely rare.)
Sourse: www.livescience.com
