Get ready for a possible storm.
It seems that along with the changing leaves and cooler weather, autumn may also bring a geomagnetic storm to Earth. Meteorologists are predicting that we could be hit by this storm on Wednesday, coinciding with the autumn equinox.
This storm is a result of a coronal mass ejection (CME) that occurred on Sunday, the same day that fall officially began. The CME happens when plasma and magnetic particles are ejected from the sun’s surface. Scientists were surprised by this event as the sunspot responsible for the solar flare was thought to be stable.
During the equinoxes in spring and fall, which typically happen around March 20 and September 22, geomagnetic storms and space weather tend to peak. This is because the Earth aligns its poles, matching its magnetic field with that of the sun. This alignment increases the chances of CMEs and storm activity.
Mike Hapgood, a space weather expert, explains that during the summer and winter months when the Earth’s poles are not aligned with the sun, the chances of geomagnetic storms are lower. This is due to the misalignment deflecting charged particles from the sun.
Despite the predictions of a geomagnetic storm, there’s no need to panic just yet. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecasted that the storm will be a G1 or “minor” class storm, the mildest category.
So, while we may be in for some space weather, it’s not expected to be anything too severe.
