The forecast of a “severe” G4 geomagnetic storm on October 10 and 11 is generating excitement across the US due to the potential visibility of the northern lights reaching as far south as Alabama to northern California. This phenomenon is triggered by a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun hitting our planet’s magnetic field. The interaction between the CME and Earth’s magnetic field can lead to voltage control issues in power grids and damage to spacecraft.
Coronal mass ejections, often accompanying solar flares, travel at high speeds and can cause geomagnetic storms when they collide with Earth’s magnetic field. These storms can push charged particles into the atmosphere, resulting in colorful auroras visible at lower latitudes than usual. The varying colors in the northern lights are a result of different gases being excited by solar particles.
The potential impacts of geomagnetic storms on infrastructure include disruptions in communications, navigation systems, and electrical power grids. The upcoming G4 storm is expected to pose challenges such as voltage control problems, tripping out key assets in the power grid, surface charging, and orbit satellite interference.