According to the National Space Weather Monitoring and Early Warning Center, at about 00:40 Beijing time on July 22, a relatively obvious coronal mass ejection (CME) process broke out in the solar activity area 13757. As a result, a geomagnetic storm is expected to occur on 24-25 July.
△ Footage of the solar eruption captured by the SDO satellite
The area of the solar activity zone 13757 that made the CME is very small, and there was no obvious large flare eruption before the official eruption, so it can be said that it is a "maverick" activity area. But it was such an inconspicuous little sunspot that erupted a coronal substance of considerable mass.
△Monitoring map of the solar active area (Xihe satellite)
According to @spaceweather, due to the influence of the coronal mass ejection on July 21, the geomagnetic field may reach the level of a small magnetic storm for a short time on July 24.
If the solar coronal material arrives as scheduled, then a series of changes in the space environment, including the earth's magnetic field jump, the increase in the density of the upper atmosphere, and the breaking of the original stability of the ionosphere, will occur, including aviation, aerospace, communications, navigation, energy, pipe networks, and long-distance navigation of organisms.
In addition, based on the intensity of geomagnetic storms that may occur, auroral activity may occur on the continent, but the intensity is relatively weak.
What is a geomagnetic storm?
A geomagnetic storm is a typical type of solar eruptive activity. When the Sun erupts, coronal mass ejections occur, and a single ejection can throw hundreds of millions of tons of solar material off the surface of the Sun at high speeds of hundreds to thousands of meters per second.
Han Dayang, a senior engineer at the Space Weather Technology R&D Office of the National Space Weather Monitoring and Warning Center of the China Meteorological Administration, said, "Geomagnetic storms are neither visible nor perceptible to humans. ”
These substances not only contain the kinetic energy of the massive mass and velocity, but also carry the powerful magnetic energy of the sun. Once they hit the Earth, they trigger a change in the direction and magnitude of the geomagnetic field, known as a geomagnetic storm.
Geomagnetic storm warning level
There are four levels of geomagnetic storm warning from low to high: blue, yellow, orange and red.
As an intense energy eruption on the surface of the sun, solar flares are divided into five levels: A, B, C, M, and X, of which A is the least energetic level and X is the largest energy level.
Geomagnetic storms can be classified into the following levels:
Geomagnetic storms and solar flares
How will it affect human life?
"Groggy in the head"
"Sleeping messily"
"Headache for days"
……
Netizens expressed doubts about the occurrence of geomagnetic storms
Will it affect the body?
Experts responded that even if there was an X-class flare and a super-geomagnetic storm in May this year, ordinary people may not have too strong personal feelings, and it will not affect their health, let alone special protection.
However, strong geomagnetic activity may affect the animal's ability to migrate and navigate. For example, for carrier pigeons that are navigated by the sun and geomagnetism, the impact is greater.
But on a global scale, it has affected the various technological systems that humans operate in space and on the ground.
△ Schematic diagram
For example, in terms of space activities, low-orbit satellites or spacecraft, including China's space station, have encountered stronger resistance; Some satellites have suspended their scientific research and observation missions.
In terms of communication, navigation and positioning, many countries such as the United States, Japan, Canada, and China have reported communication interruptions caused by strong radio wave absorption and navigation satellite locks.
In terms of the power system, New Zealand's electricity transmission service temporarily shut down some substations across the country to prevent equipment damage.
It is worth noting that with the progress of human science and technology, the impact of space weather disasters on human activities will become more and more significant.
Geomagnetic storms will also bring surprises~
In addition to this, geomagnetic storms are also wonderful "processing plants", often bringing "beautiful encounters" - the aurora. If you have the chance, you can feast your eyes~
△In December 2023, aurora appeared in many places on the mainland
Auroras are actually "by-products" of geomagnetic storms. After the coronal material carries the energy of the sun and meets the earth, part of it will enter the poles with the earth's magnetic field and collide with the atmosphere at a height of 100 km to 400 km above the ground, and the impact process is accompanied by energy exchange. After being absorbed by the extranuclear electrons of atmospheric atoms and molecules, these energies are quickly released, and the result of the release is luminescence.
Source: China Science Expo
Experts say that there is a correspondence between the range of auroras and the intensity of geomagnetic storms. For the Northern Hemisphere, the stronger the geomagnetic storm, the further southward the aurora will be, and if it is strong enough, it may appear in the continental night sky.
Why are geomagnetic storms frequent in recent years?
From May to June this year, the National Space Weather Monitoring and Warning Center issued several warnings for solar flares.
Previously reported:
Urgent warning! Continuous outbreaks! Watch out for the next few days......
Outbreak again! Red Alert!
Why are geomagnetic storms frequent in recent years? Engineer Han Dayang explained that it is normal for geomagnetic storms and solar flares to occur frequently in the near future.
Solar activity has an 11-year cycle, and we are currently at the peak of the 25th solar activity week, and there is still a high probability that strong solar activity will occur in the next two to three years, triggering catastrophic space weather events.
What is space weather? - Instantaneous explosive solar activity usually causes drastic changes in the space environment, affecting the operation and reliability of terrestrial and space technology systems, which is known as space weather.
Space weather has a variety of manifestations, including electromagnetic fields, plasma, energetic particles and other disturbances of different scales and degrees, which can be said to be "wind, rain, thunder and lightning" in space.
The sun is blowing out of the plasma all the time, which we call the "solar wind". The coronal mass ejection mentioned above is like a "hurricane" originating from the Sun, which causes violent disturbances in the Earth's space environment.
Finally, let's make an important point
Occurrence of geomagnetic storms
Impact on our daily lives
very little
Orbit on aircraft and satellites
It will have an impact
But all of them are measurable and controllable
So, if you're lately
Poor sleep, lack of energy, lightheadedness
Don't look for geomagnetic storms to "take the blame"~
Source: National Space Weather Monitoring and Warning Center, @空间天气预报, CCTV News, Guangzhou Daily
Editor-in-charge: Longgang Financial Media (Editor: Cheng Jiaxin)
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