McCreary County Record- Earth hit by most intense geomagnetic storm in over six years
In a rare event, the sun bombarded Earth with a powerful geomagnetic storm, the most intense in over six years. The storm was caused by a rare “double” X-class solar flare, indicating that the sun is at its peak of activity. The solar flare, which had a 1.1 magnitude, consisted of two simultaneous explosions.
The resulting coronal mass ejection weakened Earth’s magnetosphere, allowing for auroras and other luminous phenomena to be seen globally. The geomagnetic storm reached severe (G4) status, the last time Earth experienced such a powerful disturbance was in September 2017.
Experts believe that the sun may have already entered the explosive phase of solar maximum, earlier than predicted. X-class flares are becoming more common, with six occurring in 2024 so far. The increased frequency of X-class flares increases the likelihood of strong geomagnetic storms, which can impact infrastructure and satellites.
This recent event serves as a reminder of the power and unpredictability of the sun. As technology becomes more reliant on satellites and infrastructure that can be affected by geomagnetic storms, it is crucial for experts to continue monitoring and understanding solar activity. Stay tuned to McCreary County Record for more updates on this developing story.
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