Russians warned about magnetic storms
Quick Look
- On October 9, magnetic storms of moderate intensity G2 will hit the Earth due to a plasma cloud ejected by the Sun.
- The storms will last 10-12 hours and may cause auroras.
- Astronomers at the IKI RAS noted a decrease in solar activity to level C after possible X-class flares.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Solar activity previously showed signs of possible X-class flares, but has since dropped to C levels.
This coming Friday, October 9, magnetic storms will hit the Earth. Russians were warned about this in the Telegram channel of the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Scientists predict that a cloud of plasma ejected by the Sun will reach Earth on Friday morning and cause magnetic storms. “The plasma cloud ejected by the Sun yesterday in the middle of the day, according to calculations, will take almost three days to reach the Earth and will arrive at the planet on Friday morning. An impact on the Earth, as expected, will trigger the entire traditional chain of space weather phenomena - from magnetic storms to auroras,” the report said. The intensity of the storms, experts assume, will be within the moderate G2 level, and the duration will be from 10 to 12 hours.
Astronomers added that the growth of active regions on the Sun has stopped, which contributed to a sharp drop in the power of the observed flares. “If yesterday the Sun hinted that it could break through the X-class threshold, now it already seems unrealistic. Activity has dropped to level C, and there are no signs of a return to yesterday’s state,” concluded the IKI RAS.
Open Questions
- How much will storms affect satellites and radio communications?
- Will auroras be visible in mid-latitudes?
