Earth's Atmosphere Rocked by Largest Geomagnetic Storm in 20 Years
Geomagnetic Storm Triggered by Solar Flare
Solar Cycle 25 Nearing Peak
A dramatic blast from the sun set off a geomagnetic storm in Earth's atmosphere on Friday that is expected to continue through the weekend. The storm is the strongest in nearly 20 years, and has resulted in a severe geomagnetic storm watch.
The flare that triggered the storm is part of Solar Cycle 25, which is nearing its peak of activity. Solar Cycle 25 began in December 2019 and is expected to last until 2030. The peak of Solar Cycle 25 is known as solar maximum and is predicted to occur between January and October 2024.
The flare that triggered the geomagnetic storm is classified as an X-class flare, the strongest type of flare. X-class flares can cause severe geomagnetic storms, which can disrupt power grids, communications, and GPS systems.
The geomagnetic storm is expected to cause aurorae to be visible at lower latitudes than usual. Aurorae are caused by the interaction of charged particles from the sun with Earth's magnetic field.
Additional solar eruptions could cause geomagnetic storm conditions to persist through the weekend. Stay tuned for updates.
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