May 2024 solar storms: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Ongoing solar event}} |
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{{current weather event|solar |
{{current weather event|solar flare|date=May 2024}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} |
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{{Infobox event |
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Revision as of 20:06, 11 May 2024
 | This article is about a current solar flare 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. |
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| Date | May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Type | Coronal mass ejection |
| Part of Solar cycle 25 | |
The solar storms of May 2024 are a series of powerful solar storms with intense to extreme solar flare and geomagnetic storm components that have been ongoing since 10 May 2024 during solar cycle 25. The geomagnetic storm produced aurorae at far lower latitudes than usual in both northern and southern hemispheres[1] with observations reported as far south as Florida.[2][3]
Solar flares and coronal mass ejections
On 8 May 2024, a solar active region which had been assigned the NOAA region number 3664 produced an X1.0-class and multiple M-class solar flares and launched several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) toward Earth.[4] On 9 May, the active region produced an X2.25- and X1.12-class flare each associated with a full-halo CME. On 10 May, the region produced an X3.98-class flare, and on 11 May at 01:23 UTC it produced an X5.89-class flare with another asymmetrical full-halo CME.[5][6][7] The region also caused a S1 solar radiation storm with spikes reaching S2.[8]
Geomagnetic storm
Three CMEs from 8 May reached Earth on 10 May 2024, causing severe to extreme geomagnetic storms with bright and very long-lasting aurorae. Aurorae could be seen in Europe immediately after sunset from as far south as Croatia.[9] In North America, aurorae were seen as far south as Florida[10] and Zacatecas.[11] In the southern hemisphere, the aurora was seen in New Zealand,[12] Australia,[13] Chile and Argentina.[14] Due to the interplanetary magnetic field reaching a magnitude of 73 nT with the component along Earth's magnetic axis oriented strongly south, reaching −50 nT, as well as due to moderately high solar wind density and speed reaching 750–800 km/s (470–500 mi/s),[when?] the event was classified as a G5-class geomagnetic storm, making it the most intense storm since the 2003 Halloween solar storms.[15] Several other CMEs were expected to reach Earth on 11 and 12 May.[16]
Comparison to other solar storms
The disturbance storm time index (Dst index) is a measure in the context of space weather. A negative Dst index means that Earth's magnetic field is weakened. This is particularly the case during solar storms. The May 1921 geomagnetic storm has been estimated to have had a Dst index of −907±132 nT, whilst estimates for the Carrington Event superstorm of 1859 are between −800 nT and −1750 nT.[17]
As of 11 May 2024, the highest negative measurement for the May 2024 solar storms is −412 nT.[18]
Gallery
Media related to May 2024 solar storms at Wikimedia Commons
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Aurora as seen from Osage Beach, Missouri, U.S. (38°N) -
Aurora as seen from Othello, Washington, U.S. (46°N) -
Aurora as seen from Pawleys Island, South Carolina, U.S. (33°N) -
Aurora as seen from East Sussex, UK (51°N) -
Aurora as seen from Okeford Hill, Dorset, UK (50°N) -
Aurora as seen from Bay View, Washington, U.S. (48°N) -
Aurora as seen from Kraków, Poland (50°N) -
Aurora as seen from Gran Canaria, Spain (28°N) -
Aurora seen from Thornton-Cleveleys, United Kingdom (53°N) -
Looking straight up into the aurora in Brastad, Sweden (58°N)
_as_seen_from_Krak%C3%B3w_01.jpg)
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Note: Figures indicate geographic latitude, not magnetic latitude.
See also
References
- ^ Ralls, Eric (10 May 2024). "Auroras expected all weekend across the U.S. as massive solar storm hits Earth". Earth.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Miller, Katrina; Jones, Judson (10 May 2024). "Solar Storm Intensifies, Filling Skies With Northern Lights". 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.
- ^ "Sunspot region 3664, major flares and CMEs!". SpaceWeatherLive. 8 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Sunspot region AR13664". SpaceWeatherLive. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "CME impact imminent, Two more earth-directed CMEs". SpaceWeatherLive. 10 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. 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.
- ^ "Solar Photons archive, 10 May 2024". Space Weather Live. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Adams, Josh (10 May 2024). "Aurora Borealis Forecast for Friday Night as Large Geomagnetic Storm Rages, Causing Northern Lights to Shine". PA Weather Action. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "'Unbelievable!': Northern Lights seen in South Florida from 'severe' solar storm". NBC 6 South Florida. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Torres Vargas, César Eduardo (11 May 2024). "Estas son las mejores fotos de las auroras boreales en el norte de México" [These are the best photos of the northern lights in northern Mexico] (in Spanish). Infobae. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Incredible photos: Stunning aurora dazzles NZ skies". NZ Herald. 11 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ Shepherd, Tory; Paul, Kari (11 May 2024). "Spectacular southern lights seen across Australia after 'extreme' solar storm". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Aurora Austral impresiona en los cielos del sur de Chile" [Aurora Austral impresses in the skies of southern Chile] (in Spanish). MSN. 11 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Strongest geomagnetic storm since 2003, X5.8 solar flare". SpaceWeatherLive. 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "SWPC Issues Its First G4 Watch Since 2005". Space Weather Prediction Center. 9 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Near Miss: The Solar Superstorm of July 2012 – NASA Science". science.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Real-time Dst Index". World Data Center for Geomagnetism, Kyoto. Archived from the original on 10 May 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2024.