A plasmic ejection from the sun to strike Earth.
On May 9th, late evening, a large section of plasma erupted from the sun. A portion of which is heading towards the Earth. The eruption is predicted to trigger a powerful G3-class geomagnetic storm.
All you need to know about the mass and its effects on Earth:
This mass, or coronal mass, is predicted to strike the planet at a high speed of 3.6 million kilometers per hour. It is travelling outwards through the inner worlds. The plasma erupted from the sun on May 9th.
Due to our planet’s intense magnetic field, the mass is set to trigger a big G3-class geomagnetic storm leading to bright auroras.
What is a Coronal mass ejection CME?
Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are vast eruptions of plasma and strong magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. This plasmic mass can produce a ton of coronal material and carry a strong embedded magnetic field.
Impact of Coronal mass ejection (CME) on the planet Earth
The effect of the mass on Earth depends on different factors.
- The speed of the mass.
- The direction of the mass.
- Strength and the orientation of the coronal mass ejection’s magnetic fields.
If the magnetic fields of both the high-speed group and the Earth align, the consequence can be a more severe Geomagnetic Storm.
What is a geomagnetic storm?
A coronal mass ejected and heading towards the Earth whose magnetic field aligns with our planet’s magnetic field can cause an interaction known as a geomagnetic storm.
When the magnetic fields of these two entities collide, an abrupt unbalance is created in the Earth’s magnetic field. The disruption creates electrical currents in the ionosphere (a layer of the atmosphere) and the planet’s surface.
The effect of geomagnetic storms on the Earth
- This storm can disrupt daily life through as
- The electric currents can disconnect satellite communications and
- Dysconnectivity of polar grids
Besides this, this storm can also create auroras in the polar regions.
What causes coronal mass ejections?
After Every eleven years, approximately the sun undergoes a cycle of high magnetic activity.
This natural cycle affects space weather, coronal mass ejections (CME), solar fares and many other activities. When near maxima, this star has the highest magnetic field activity, which increases the number of sunspots on its surface.
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