A G3-level magnetic storm has been registered on Earth — the strongest in the past three months. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
This was reported by the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. According to the scientists' data, it began at approximately 22:00 Astana time on October 10. The last comparable storm was observed on July 4.
The U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center NOAA also confirmed that the maximum three-hour geomagnetic activity index Kp over the previous day reached 7, which corresponds to G3 level. These data are cited in a forecast issued on the morning of October 11.
The cause was the arrival at Earth of plasma clouds ejected by the Sun during a surge in activity earlier in the week. According to the laboratory, the storm was accompanied by intense auroras at geographic latitudes of 50 degrees and above.
"According to the forecast, the geomagnetic field may remain in a disturbed state for about another day," scientists said on the evening of October 10.
Earlier, the laboratory warned about three clouds of solar plasma. The first was ejected on October 6 during an M1.4-class flare. Its arrival was expected on the evening of October 9.
Two more clouds left the Sun on October 7 and 8. According to preliminary calculations, they could merge en route and reach Earth in the middle of the day on October 11. At that time, scientists predicted G2-level storms.
On NOAA's five-level scale, G3 refers to strong geomagnetic storms. At such intensity, disruptions to satellite navigation and radio communications are possible, along with increased atmospheric drag for satellites in low orbits, as well as malfunctions in individual protective devices of power systems. These are possible consequences of the G3 level, not confirmed failures during the current storm.
NOAA's forecast for October 11-12 expects geomagnetic storms of G1-G2 levels — from weak to moderate. They are linked to the arrival of several coronal mass ejections and the possible impact of a high-speed solar wind stream.
The Russian laboratory notes that solar activity in early October increased compared to a calm September. However, it is still premature to consider this a sustained trend for the entire month: activity remains uneven, and further development depends on the state of sunspot groups.
Earlier, Kursiv wrote that scientists had predicted a magnetic storm for October 9. At that time, its strength was expected not to exceed G2 level, and an elevated geomagnetic background could persist on October 10 as well.