Magnetic storms are the main effects of fast solar winds from a coronal solar hole 300,000 to 400,000 kilometers wide.
NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory identified recently a huge coronal hole near the south pole of the Sun. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Heliophysics Sciences Division scientist Alex Young explained that the current coronal hole is between 300,000 and 400,000 kilometers wide, which is equivalent to between 20 and 30 Earth-like planets lined up in a row.
coronal foramen to appear as dark areas in the solar corona (outer part of the Sun’s atmosphere), as they are colder regions and less dense than the surrounding plasma, which means that they do not shine as brightly as in other areas of the large star.
At the same time, they are regions of open unipolar magnetic fields that allow the solar wind to easily escape into space and result in fast-moving streams of solar wind called “high-velocity currents”. According to Young, these currents can reach speeds between 500 and 800 kilometers per second (km/s).
Coronal hole will cause magnetic storms
Alex Young commented that Earth’s inhabitants will begin to feel the effects of high-speed currents from Friday, as the particles and magnetic field carried by the solar wind will interact with Earth’s magnetic field, which will cause disturbances. temporary. He also noted that the magnetic fields of coronal holes are less violent than those of a coronal mass ejection, so a more vibrant aurora borealis is expected to appear.
However, the Space Weather Forecast Center (SWPC) published geomagnetic storm warnings, which are scheduled to occur between Thursday and Saturday of this week. The SWPC specified that “alerts are mainly due to the effects of high-velocity currents from the coronal foramen“.
Geomagnetic storm clocks are now in effect for March 23-25, primarily as a result of the early effects of the CH HSS, although surface influence from a passing CME is also possible late on March 23. Visit https://t.co/YLUbTRMxS6 for the latest information and forecasts. pic.twitter.com/V0Mdipmdoi
— NOAA Space Weather (@NWSSWPC) March 22, 2023
A G1-class geomagnetic storm is forecast to occur in the early hours of Thursday, while a G2-class geomagnetic storm is expected on Friday. He also emphasized that “the speed of the solar wind is likely to exceed 600 km/s” and continue through Saturday, giving rise to a G1 storm.
To the G1 storms They are relatively weak and usually cause only minor fluctuations in power grids and disrupt some satellite functions, including mobile devices and GPS systems. It can also cause northern lights. However, G2 storms typically cause voltage alarms in high-altitude power systems and even cause transformer damage if they last too long.