In recent days, Earth's atmosphere experienced a succession of solar disturbances, resulting in the appearance of auroras for some Northern Hemisphere residents during the weekend.
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center reported that these solar storm effects, caused by Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and a high-speed stream from a Coronal Hole, reached Earth on Sunday and are expected to continue into the upcoming week.
Northern Lights in Southern US Skies
Over the weekend, the enchanting spectacle of the Northern Lights graced the skies in the southern United States, casting brilliant reds, purples, and greens across the horizon, an unusual occurrence as far south as Colorado and Texas.
This captivating celestial display was a result of two solar eruptions. On both Saturday and Sunday, Earth was bombarded by highly charged particles originating from at least two coronal mass ejections, as detailed by SpaceWeather.com.
Coronal mass ejections arise from the sun when its magnetic fields collide, instigating explosive events that propel charged sub-atomic particles into space, where they engage with particles in Earth's atmosphere.
Although not every coronal mass ejection reaches Earth, in this particular instance, the solar eruption took place while the sun's explosive region was facing our planet.
The ensuing influx of particles triggered a robust geomagnetic storm, illuminating the skies further south than usual, with sightings reported in locations like Spokane, Washington; Salt Lake City, Utah; Aberdeen, South Dakota; and even Lubbock, Texas.
The striking spectacle did not go unnoticed, as the National Weather Service, storm chasers, and photographers shared captivating images on various platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter, reaching viewers around the globe.
Landon Moeller, the photographer responsible for some of the shared images, clarified in a direct message to Insider that the phenomenon captured in the photographs is not the traditional aurora but a similar phenomenon known as 'stable auroral red,' brought about by the geomagnetic storm.
More Auroras To Come
With the sun becoming more active and nearing its solar maximum, a period characterized by heightened solar activity and more frequent solar eruptions, a rise in aurora events is expected.
On Sunday, NOAA's SWPC issued a Geomagnetic Storm Alert, cautioning about the potential disruption of communication systems and spacecraft operations. While the public need not be overly concerned about the geomagnetic storm, individuals as far south as Nebraska, Iowa, and northern Illinois had the opportunity to witness aurora lights early Monday morning.
The SWPC noted strong G3 geomagnetic storm levels on Sunday, which can lead to power outages and communication disruptions, impacting the electrical grid, GPS signals, and satellite orbits, and posing risks to aviation and space travel.
The Kp index, measuring geomagnetic activity, reached Level 7 on Sunday, indicating a strong storm and favorable Northern Lights sightings in cities like Seattle and Green Bay under clear skies and low light pollution.
Subsequently, Monday's forecast anticipated a drop to Level 3, signifying reduced activity. Despite the ongoing geomagnetic storm, there was a chance to see faint auroras in the far northern US after midnight on Tuesday, and increased geomagnetic storm frequency is expected in the next year as the sun approaches its solar maximum phase.
RELATED ARTICLE: Vibrant Green Aurora-Like Streaks of Light Illuminating the Night Sky Could Become More Common as the Sun's Activity Continues to Ramp Up
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