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Days after parts of the world were affected by the most severe solar flare in six years, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center now warns that further geomagnetic effects could occur on Earth, including the appearance of aurora borealis. are doing.
The agency issued geomagnetic storm watch Due to increased solar activity until at least Sunday, December 17th.
Experts observed multiple coronal mass ejections from the Sun, sending plasma particles hurtling toward Earth.
“Multiple CMEs on December 14th and 15th may lead to G1 to G2 (light to moderate) geomagnetic storm conditions from December 16th to 17th.” NOAA said in an update Friday..
Early indications from government agencies indicate that the event could reach a value of 6 on the Kp index scale, which ranges from 0 to 9.
So far, events of this size have seen dancing colors of green, red, and even purple from Seattle to Minneapolis to Buffalo, New York.
Clouds and light pollution are known to interfere with viewing, potentially reducing the area in which you can see the aurora borealis.
If this event is underestimated, areas further south may have a chance to see the aurora borealis. If more significant solar events occur, cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, and Des Moines, Iowa, could see light shows.
In addition to producing auroras, geomagnetic storms can also affect power grids, spacecraft, and communications equipment.
NOAA said transformers could be damaged and radio signals could be susceptible to weakening during long events.
In the latest report, the phenomenon was expected to reach the level of G2 on NOAA’s five-point scale of geomagnetic activity.
![Green aurora borealis over Jokulsarlon Bay in the midnight sky in Tromsø, Norway.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/iStock-1720195458.jpg?w=1024)
![Green aurora borealis over Jokulsarlon Bay in the midnight sky in Tromsø, Norway.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/12/iStock-1720195458.jpg?w=1024)
Events that reach G2 are considered to be moderate, but when they reach level G3, the activity is considered strong and has a more widespread impact.
As the so-called Solar Cycle 25 reaches its expected peak in 2024, solar activity is increasing, including coronal mass ejections and solar flares.
A solar cycle is a sequence in which the sun’s magnetic field passes through every 11 years, causing the field to reverse. Solar Cycle 25 begins in 2019 and could last until 2030 if predictions are correct.
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