Earth's magnetosphere is currently experiencing a series of geomagnetic storms due to twin coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun that struck the planet recently. The CMEs, which are massive expulsions of solar material and energy at high speeds, led to rare low-latitude visibility of northern and southern lights, with sightings reported even in areas such as Colorado, Texas, and Greece.
According to space weather specialist Tamitha Skov, continued geomagnetic disturbances are expected due to the weekend's CME impacts. A minor G1-class storm and a fast solar wind are anticipated no earlier than late Monday. The equatorward shift of auroras and the Sun's progression towards its active phase suggest more solar outbursts may be imminent, highlighting the need for vigilant geomagnetic storm monitoring. Although auroras may remain visible up until Thursday, November 9th, another G3-level outburst is considered improbable.
Earlier, a CME linked to a "filament eruption" was anticipated to trigger a geomagnetic storm affecting Earth's magnetosphere and technology infrastructure. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (NOAA's SWPC) predicted minor G1 and moderate G2 magnetic storms on Sunday and Monday, with a potential solar radiation storm lasting until Wednesday, November 8th.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned that such storms can disrupt radio and GPS communications, cause satellite movement and damage due to static-electric charges from space, and lead to power outages from voltage surges in grids. Ionospheric expansion during these storms could further complicate satellite control.
The Carrington Event of 1859 serves as a stark reminder of the potentially catastrophic effects of solar activities. This event, triggered by sunspots, caused global disruption including telegraph stations catching fire and operators experiencing electric shocks.
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