The US National Weather Service has announced that a powerful geomagnetic storm hitting Earth is anticipated to intensify, offering another chance to witness dazzling auroras on Sunday.
Multiple intense Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are predicted to reach the Earth’s outer atmosphere by later today, as stated by the US National Weather Service.
These ejections have already produced spectacular celestial displays across various parts of the Earth since Friday, extending beyond the usual extreme latitudes where auroras are commonly observed.
Keith Ryden, head of the Surrey Space Centre in England, mentioned to AFP news agency that the plasma and magnetic fields expelled from the Sun, termed CMEs, are expected to reach Earth late Sunday or early Monday, potentially causing severe or extreme geomagnetic storms once again.
However, scientists cautioned that the intensity of the auroras seen on Sunday night might not match the level witnessed on Friday.
Friday’s event marked the first “extreme” geomagnetic storm since October 2003, causing blackouts in Sweden and damaging power infrastructure in South Africa. Fortunately, no major disruptions to power or communications networks have been reported this time.
The phenomenon has sparked excitement worldwide, with otherworldly photos capturing pink, green, and purple night skies emerging across the globe.
Charged particles from solar winds, captured by Earth’s magnetic field, accelerate toward the planet’s magnetic poles, typically causing auroras near the Arctic region. However, during periods of heightened solar activity, these effects extend further toward the equator.
Unlike solar flares, which travel at the speed of light, CMEs move at a slower pace, averaging around 800 kilometers (500 miles) per second.
