Earth Hit by Second Geomagnetic Storm of February, Igniting Auroras

Overnight, Earth experienced its second geomagnetic disturbance of February, peaking at a G1.3 level on the five-point scale. This event, classified as a minor to moderate storm, triggered vivid auroral displays and serves as another reminder of our Sun’s increasing activity within the current Solar Cycle 25. The storm was caused by a high-speed solar wind stream emanating from a large coronal hole on the Sun that was facing Earth.

Details of the February Disturbance

According to monitoring data from the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the IKI and ISZF, the storm’s maximum impact occurred around 05:00 Moscow time. Notably, the activity manifested about a day earlier than initially predicted, highlighting the dynamic and sometimes unpredictable nature of space weather. This is the second such event in February; a previous disturbance of similar strength was observed on February 5, marking an interval of just ten days between the storms. Despite this, the current month is proving to be calmer than January, which set a decade-long record for the number of storm days.

Cause and Effect: From the Sun to Polar Lights

Coronal holes are areas in the Sun’s upper atmosphere where the magnetic field is open, allowing the solar wind-a stream of charged particles-to escape into space at much higher speeds. When this stream reaches Earth, it interacts with the planet’s magnetosphere, causing a disturbance. One of the most spectacular consequences of such events is the aurora. During the recent storm, their brightness was particularly high, with the intensity index reaching 8.6 out of 10. The best viewing conditions were in the northwestern regions of Russia during the pre-dawn hours. The opportunity to see auroras at high latitudes will continue until mid-May, after which the increasing daylight hours will make observations nearly impossible.

A Look Ahead: What to Expect from the Sun

The current period of geomagnetic instability is expected to last up to two days with uneven bursts of activity, but the probability of the storm intensifying to a G2 (moderate) level or higher is considered low. Nevertheless, this event fits into the broader picture of increasing solar activity. As we approach the maximum of Solar Cycle 25, predicted to occur in the next year or two, experts anticipate a rise in the frequency and intensity of such phenomena. This increases the risks for satellite systems, navigation, radio communications, and even terrestrial power grids, making accurate space weather forecasting an increasingly critical task.