May 2024 solar storms
 | This article is about a current solar storm where information can change quickly or be unreliable. The latest page updates may not reflect the most up-to-date information. Please refer to your local weather service or media outlets for the latest weather information pertaining to a specific location. |
| File:May 10 2024 Aurorae from Arkansas.jpg | |
| Date | May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Type | Coronal mass ejection |
| Part of Solar cycle 25 | |
The solar storms of May 2024 are an ongoing powerful series of solar storms with intense to extreme solar flare and geomagnetic storm components ongoing since 10 May 2024, during solar cycle 25.[1][2] The storm produced aurorae at far lower latitudes than usual in both northern and southern hemispheres.[3]
Solar flare
On 10 May 2024, from about 06:27 to 07:06 UTC, GOES satellites detected a very strong, X3.9-class, solar flare.[note 1]
This flare originated from solar active region AR13663, the location of the largest sunspot group recorded in solar cycle 25 as of May 2024 and the largest recorded since 2014.[citation needed] The sunspot group was 17 times the diameter of Earth,[4] and was of similar size and structure to the sunspot group that caused the Carrington Event in 1859.[5] The flare was preceded by an X2.2 event on 9 May and was followed by multiple other X- and M-class flares.[6]
The eruption of an additional X5.4 magnitude solar flare was reported 11 May 2024 at 01:23 UTC.[7]
Geomagnetic storm
These solar flares sent multiple halo coronal mass ejections (CMEs) toward Earth. These reached Earth on 10 May causing a geomagnetic storm, which so far has reached a Kp index of 9 in the late hours of 10 May corresponding to an extreme, or G5, magnetic storm and so far has registered a peak Dst of −412 nT, the most intense geomagnetic storm recorded since November 2003.[8][9][4] The storm was rated as the first extreme G5 storm since the 2003 Halloween solar storms by NOAA, which warned of disruptions to radio communications, power grids, GPS, satellites, and
Comparison to other solar storms
The disturbance storm time index is a measure in the context of space weather. A negative Dst value means that Earth's magnetic field is weakened. This is particularly the case during solar storms. The May 1921 geomagnetic storm had estimates of intensity of Dst = −907±132 nT. While estimates for the Carrington Event superstorm of 1859 are between -850 nT (Siscoe et al., 2006) and -1050 nT (Gonzalez et al., 2011).
Currently the highest negative measurement for the May 2024 solar storms is -412 nT.[8]
Gallery
Aurorae
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Aurora as seen from Osage Beach, Missouri -
Aurora as seen from Pawleys Island, South Carolina -
Aurora as seen from East Sussex, UK -
Aurora as seen from Okeford Hill, Dorset, UK -
Aurora as seen from Bay View, Washington
See also
Notes
- ^ The label X3.8-class implies that the solar flare had a peak soft X-ray flux of 3.8×10−3 W/m2 in the 0.1 to 0.8 nm (1 to 8 Å) passband. (See Solar flare § Soft X-ray.)[citation needed]
References
- ^ Miller, Katrina; Jones, Judson (10 May 2024). "Solar Storm Intensifies, Filling Skies With Northern Lights - Officials warned of potential blackouts or interference with navigation and communication systems this weekend, as well as auroras as far south as Southern California or Texas". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Fritz, Angela; Hammond, Elise; Lau, Chris (10 May 2024). "Live updates: The latest on the massive solar storm". CNN. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Ralls, Eric (10 May 2024). "Auroras expected all weekend across the U.S. as massive solar storm hits Earth". Earth.com.
- ^ a b "G5 Conditions Observed!". Space Weather Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "What's up in space". Space Weather. 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
- ^ Wiessinger, Scott (9 May 2024). "May 2-10, 2024 : A Busy Week of Flares". NASA Scientific Visualization Studio. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Yet Another X-class Flare!". Space Weather Prediction Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 11 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Real-time Dst Index". World Data Center for Geomagnetism, Kyoto. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Final Dst Index". World Data Center for Geomagnetism, Kyoto. Retrieved 11 May 2024.