What is a Solar Storm (Magnetic storm)
The Solar Storm represents a disturbance originating from unusual events on the sun. It leads to atmospheric effects that directly impact Earth's weather patterns. Upon reaching Earth, the solar storm manifests as northern lights, observable in regions near the Arctic Circle.
The Sun, a dynamic sphere of gas, exhibits continuous activity, following cyclical patterns known as the solar cycle. This activity, including phenomena like solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), significantly influences the energy and speed of the solar wind, as well as the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF).
Solar flares are immense eruptions on the Sun's surface, while CMEs are massive clouds of charged particles ejected from the Sun's corona along intense magnetic field lines over several hours. Although Earth's magnetic field deflects much of the solar wind, some particles penetrate through, causing magnetic disruptions termed geomagnetic storms or substorms. While geomagnetic storms can produce captivating auroras, they can also pose risks as damaging space weather events.
Geomagnetic storms are categorized as either recurrent or non-recurrent. Recurrent storms, tied to the Sun's rotation, repeat every 27 days and are triggered by Earth's encounter with the southward IMF during the solar minimum phase. Non-recurrent storms, more common during the solar maximum, result from CMEs and their interaction with interplanetary shock waves.
Substorms, similar in origin to geomagnetic storms, are short-lived events lasting two to three hours and occur more frequently, up to six times daily, during the storm's growth phase. While substorms are limited to auroral zones, magnetic storms affect the entire globe.
Solar activity follows cycles, with maximum sunspot conditions recurring approximately every 11 years. During these periods, sunspot groups rapidly expand and rotate, generating explosive energy releases known as solar flares. Despite being millions of miles away, Earth's systems are synchronized with the solar rhythm.
#Solar eruption #Solar explosion #Sun tongues #Sun rash #Solar flare #Solar eclipse