A powerful geomagnetic storm hit Earth from Aug 17 to Aug 19 after a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were sent out by the Sun earlier this week. Moderate radio blackouts were also witnessed, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a press release.
The Sun is in the active phase of its 11-year solar cycle. This phase sees an increase in activity on the solar surface, which is visible through the formation of sunspots. As a result of increased magnetic activity certain solar surface areas do not participate in the convection process. This ensures in a drop in their temperature and gives them a darker appearance when viewed from telescopes on Earth.
At times, the disruption of magnetic fields near the sunspots can lead to a sudden release of energy called a solar flare. While solar flares are intense bursts of radiation, at times, highly magnetized particulate matter is also let out, which scientists call a coronal mass ejection (CME).
A CME hit Earth’s magnetic field on Aug. 19th at 1734 UT, sparking a G1-class (minor) geomagnetic storm. Two more CMEs are on the way. Both are on the edge of the Earth strike zone; they could deliver weak glancing blows on Aug. 20th and 21st.
