On August 17, 2024, our planet was hit by a powerful geomagnetic storm, triggered by a solar flare of X1.3 class that occurred on August 14. Although it initially seemed to be a relatively weak event, it turned out to be one of the strongest of its kind in recent years.
The geomagnetic storm hit the Earth at around 14:30 UTC, causing a short but intense period of strong disturbance of our planet's magnetic field. Already at 16:17 UTC, the threshold of a geomagnetic storm of G1 class (K-index 5) was reached, and only 55 minutes later, at 17:12 UTC, it transitioned to a G2 class storm (K-index 6).
The culmination of the phenomenon occurred at 17:46 UTC, when a geomagnetic storm of G3 class (K-index 7) was recorded - referred to as "strong". Such storms can cause serious disruptions to the functioning of technical infrastructure, as well as affect the operation of satellite systems and radio communications.
According to information provided by experts from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, a strong geomagnetic storm can lead to irregularities in the supply of electricity, as well as false alarms in some security systems. In addition, spacecraft in low orbits may experience problems with orientation and increased atmospheric resistance, which can disrupt their work.
Disruptions can also affect satellite navigation systems, such as GPS, causing temporary problems with maintaining communication and positioning accuracy. Additionally, high ionizing activity in the atmosphere can disrupt shortwave radio communications.
Despite these potential threats, the geomagnetic storm also created a rare opportunity to observe the aurora borealis in regions that do not normally deal with them.
Although the strength of the geomagnetic storm was relatively unexpected, considering the state of the Earth's magnetic field and other factors, it should not be all that surprising. In the last 36 hours before the event peaked, the Sun emitted several M-class flares, which could have been a sign of the coming disruptions.
According to forecasts, in the coming days, until August 19, there is a 70% chance of more M-class flares, and even a 20% chance of X-class flares. This means that the threat associated with solar activity remains at an elevated level.
Although scientists and space weather specialists try to constantly monitor and forecast such phenomena, there are still many unknowns related to their exact course and strength. Therefore, it is important for entities responsible for key technical infrastructure to be prepared for possible disruptions and to be able to react quickly in the event of more serious problems.
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