Domestic and international space weather forecasting agencies ‘nervous’

Possibility of interference with satellite flights and long-distance communications

‘Sunspot 3664’ variable… “Still active”

The surface of the sun taken by NASA's solar observation satellite on the 10th (US time). A powerful explosion is occurring that has created a geomagnetic storm. Provided by NASA

A ‘geomagnetic storm’ in which the magnetic field surrounding the Earth is disturbed due to the effects of a large-scale explosion that occurred on the surface of the sun is expected to last at least until the 13th. Domestic and international space weather forecasting agencies are closely monitoring the possibility of satellite flight disruption, communication device use disruption, and power grid failure.

In a notice issued on this day, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center said, “The G3 warning will be in effect until 2 a.m. Eastern time on the 13th (3 p.m. on the 13th in Korean time).”

NOAA divides geomagnetic storms into five levels, with the strongest geomagnetic storm being G5. A G5-class geomagnetic storm occurred three days ago, and the aftermath is still ongoing. The G5 geomagnetic storm occurred for the first time in 21 years, and because of this, large-scale aurora was observed throughout the world last weekend.    

    

Korea's National Radio Research Agency's Space Radio Center also announced on this day that it will maintain the 'caution' level of space radio disaster crisis warning level issued on the 11th.

The Space Radio Center announced in a ‘Crisis Alert Progress Notice’ that “the corona mass ejection (CME) that occurred on the 11th is expected to affect the Earth on this day,” and that “additional geomagnetic disturbances may occur.”

The geomagnetic storm that the world's space weather authorities are watching is caused by a phenomenon called Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) flying from the sun. A CME is an explosion in a sunspot on the sun's surface, causing electrical particles to fly out of the sun. These particles disrupt the Earth's magnetic field, creating a geomagnetic storm.

Geomagnetic storms affect the density of the Earth's atmosphere, hindering the flight of satellites. It can also disrupt global navigation system (GPS) signals and long-distance communications.    

Very powerful geomagnetic storms can even destroy power grids. This is because electricity flows through the ground. In 1989, 5 million people in Quebec, Canada suffered a power outage for 9 hours due to a geomagnetic storm. Public transportation, heating, and factory operations were halted.

First of all, no serious damage occurred at home or abroad due to the geomagnetic storm that occurred this time. However, the variable is the movement of ‘sunspot 3664’ on the sun’s surface, which emits substances that cause geomagnetic storms. The Space Radio Disaster Center said, “Sunspot 3664 is still showing strong activity,” and “continuous monitoring is necessary.”

Reporter Lee Jeong-ho run@kyunghyang.com