"A geomagnetic storm happens when charged particles from the sun's atmosphere interact with the Earth's magnetic field. In addition to creating dazzling displays of color, such storms can disrupt technology on Earth, from satellites and GPS to radio communications and the power grid. Tuesday's activity was the result of a phenomenon called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), massive blasts of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's outer atmosphere that grow in size as they hurtle towards Earth."
"The resulting storm reached G4 levels, the second-highest on NOAA's five-step scale, and created a magnetic field that was "not only eight times stronger than what's normal but also favorable for continued activity," Dahl said in a later update. Forecasters are awaiting a third and final CME, which they expect will arrive on Earth at midday Wednesday and be even stronger than the previous two."
A series of powerful coronal mass ejections produced intense geomagnetic storms that painted the sky with green and pink auroras across a wide swath of the United States, visible from Idaho, Washington, New York, Texas, New Mexico and as far south as parts of Florida and Alabama. The storms reached G4 intensity and created a magnetic field reported to be eight times stronger than normal and favorable for continued activity. Two CMEs already arrived, and a faster, more energetic third CME was expected to arrive midday Wednesday, increasing the likelihood of further auroral displays and potential impacts to satellites, GPS, radio communications, and the power grid.
Read at www.npr.org
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