infowebsite.in
A coronal mass ejection that erupted from the Sun on 4 November is expected to strike a glancing blow to the Earth on 7 November.
The Coronal Mass Ejection on 4 November. (Image Credit: NASA/SDO/News9).
New Delhi: The Sun erupted in an M3.8 solar flare on 4 November, which was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME), where material from the outer atmosphere of the Sun is violently hurled outwards into space. This plasma from the Sun is expected to take about three days to cross interplanetary space, and is expected to strike a glancing blow to the Earth on 7 November, causing a minor geomagnetic storm. According to the forecast of the Space Weather Prediction Centre operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “The forerunning shock is expected 06 Nov with the bulk of the magnetic cloud arriving 07 Nov.”
The hot gas from the Sun carries with it a portion of the magnetic field of the Sun, and can cause disturbances in the geomagnetic field of the Earth. The South African National Space Agency has also forecasted a geomagnetic storm on 7 November, “A CME associated with the long duration M3.8 flare at 04/01:40 UT from AR3883 was re-analysed and may give a glancing blow on 6-7 November.” The cluster of sunspots from where the solar flare erupted, designated as AR3883 erupted in nine M-class flares on 4 November. Analysis of the CME continues, with not all space weather forecasting agencies agreeing on the prediction of the geomagnetic storm.
Uncertainty in geomagnetic storm
According to the Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre though, the CME will not be striking the Earth, “An east directed CME was observed in association with the M3.8 flare and has been modelled as an Earth miss.” Analysis by the British Geological Survey also indicates that the CME will be missing the Earth, “There was an M3.8 solar flare early this morning with an associated CME. Although imagery is limited and analysis difficult, this is expected to miss the Earth.” According to the UK Met office, a minor geomagnetic storm is expected on 7 November, but not because of the CME, but because of a high speed stream from a coronal hole aimed at the Earth.
Next Article
Follow us on social media
