We may very well be in for a New Year’s aurora deal with with northern lights doubtlessly seen deep into mid-latitudes tonight and tomorrow (Dec. 30 to Dec. 31).
Due to an incoming photo voltaic storm, often known as a coronal mass ejection (CME), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G3 (sturdy) geomagnetic storm warning for Dec. 31.
This is nice information for these wishing to see the northern lights as the anticipated geomagnetic storm might spark auroras as far south as Illinois and Oregon (round 50° latitude).
The offender? A CME — an unlimited plume of plasma and magnetic area — was hurled out into area by the solar on Dec. 29 and Earth is within the firing line. The CME is not alone, a number of different eruptions over the previous couple of days have additionally produced Earth-directed eruptions that are anticipated to set off sturdy geomagnetic storm circumstances on Dec. 31, based on Solar Astrophysicist Ryan French.
“The Sun has actually stepped up over the previous few days, with frequent photo voltaic flares together with a powerful X-class occasion!” French wrote in a put up on X. “A number of these flares produced Earth-directed eruptions, anticipated to set off a powerful geomagnetic storm (bringing aurora) on the thirty first!” French continued.
The Sun has actually stepped up over the previous few days, with frequent photo voltaic flares together with a powerful X-class occasion! A number of these flares produced Earth-directed eruptions, anticipated to set off a powerful geomagnetic storm (bringing aurora) on the thirty first! #spaceweather pic.twitter.com/oSiBZWAM4hDecember 29, 2024
When CMEs strike Earth’s magnetosphere, they carry electrically charged particles referred to as ions that collide with Earth’s magnetic area. These collisions can spark geomagnetic storms. During these storms, ions collide with atmospheric gases, releasing vitality that manifests as gentle. This creates the beautiful shows generally known as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, within the Northern Hemisphere, and the southern lights, or aurora australis, within the Southern Hemisphere.
NOAA classifies geomagnetic storms utilizing a G-scale, which ranks their depth from G1 (minor) to G5 (excessive). The current geomagnetic storm watch NOAA issued is rated as a G3, indicating sturdy storm circumstances.
When will the geomagnetic storm happen?
Current predictions place the very best degree of exercise (G1 to G3 circumstances) between 10 p.m. EST on Dec. 30 and 10 a.m. EST on Dec. 31 (0300 GMT and 1500 GMT on Dec. 31). Another spate of exercise is at the moment anticipated for between 4:00 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) on Dec. 31 and 10:00 p.m. EST (0300 GMT on Jan 1), with G1 circumstances anticipated. Check out NOAA’s 3-day forecast for the newest timings — word that timings are listed as UT.
Keep in thoughts that area climate, very similar to Earth’s climate, is unpredictable and tough to forecast. Even although geomagnetic storm warnings at this degree are uncommon, they’ll sometimes quantity to nothing.
If you are thinking about monitoring area climate and realizing when and the place to identify auroras, obtain an area climate app that gives forecasts primarily based in your location. One choice I exploit is “My Aurora Forecast & Alerts,” accessible for each iOS and Android. However, any related app ought to work nicely. I additionally use the “Space Weather Live” app, which is accessible on iOS and Android, to get a deeper understanding of whether or not the present area climate circumstances are favorable for aurora sightings.
Northern Hemisphere aurora forecast courtesy of the Met Office
