Mon Sep 09 14:37:13 UTC 2024: ## Sun Burps Out Dark Plasma, Set to Trigger Northern Lights Across US
A plume of dark plasma, ejected from a magnetic filament on the sun’s surface, is heading towards Earth and expected to spark a moderate geomagnetic storm on Tuesday, September 10th.
The coronal mass ejection (CME), a giant cloud of solar plasma and magnetic field, is predicted to cause auroras visible as far south as New York and Idaho. While the storm is classified as G2, or moderate strength, it’s not expected to reach the intensity of the G5 storm that illuminated all 50 US states in May.
“Dark plasma” refers to the cooler, less visible plasma from the filament, contrasting with the hotter, brighter plasma typically found in the sun’s corona. While appearing dark in solar imaging, this plasma is still very hot and energetic by Earthly standards.
The CME is expected to arrive by midday on Tuesday, potentially causing disruptions like voltage alarms in high-latitude power systems and HF radio fading at higher latitudes. While a strong storm could cause transformer damage, this event is not predicted to reach that level of intensity.
According to Martin Connors, a professor of space science and physics at Athabasca University, the rare occurrence of extreme conditions on the sun and in the solar wind are necessary for stronger geomagnetic storms. The storm’s impact will depend on the magnetic field of the solar wind, which is difficult to detect but crucial in determining how the solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetic field.
This event provides an opportunity to observe the captivating auroras and highlights the dynamic interplay between the sun and Earth’s magnetic environment.
First Piper 