Powerful solar eruptions head toward Earth

The Sun is becoming restless again. During June 3, sunspot 4455 emitted three coronal mass ejections (CMEs)—massive eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields—that could reach Earth between June 4 and June 5, potentially triggering a geomagnetic storm.

According to data from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center, the storm could reach G3 level, or even G4 if conditions are favorable, on a geomagnetic storm scale that extends to G5, the highest category, CE Report quotes ANSA.

"It is not unusual for such energetic events to occur even during the declining phase of solar activity in which we currently find ourselves," said Mauro Messerotti, professor of Space Weather at the University of Trieste.

"Estimating the exact arrival time is always difficult, with an uncertainty range of between six and ten hours."

Messerotti added that auroras are expected to appear at lower latitudes than usual, although it is unlikely they will be visible from Italy.

The first CME emitted by the Sun was the largest and is traveling along a trajectory that intersects Earth's orbit. The other two are directed farther north, but the most recently emitted CME is moving faster. Forecasts suggest it may catch up with the earlier eruptions and merge with them before reaching Earth.

This phenomenon is known as a "cannibal CME." The major geomagnetic storm of May 2024, which reached the extreme G5 level, was partly caused by a CME of this type.

A G3-class geomagnetic storm could lead to voltage fluctuations in power grids, orientation issues for satellites orbiting Earth, interference with satellite navigation systems, and disruptions to radio communications.

If the storm reaches G4, these effects could become more severe, potentially causing several-hour disruptions to navigation and radio communication systems and affecting regions at lower latitudes.

Photo: CHAT GPT