In case we had not had enough problems in the electricity network, a “severe” solar storm has come to complicate it

The closeness of the Pico de Activity of the last solar cycle implies stirred times in the field of “spatial meteorology.” And we have seen one of the most important during these days, a “severe” geomagnetic storm caused by this activity.

Geomagnetic storm. The last two days have been days of “intense” solar activity. The geomagnetic storm has reached a Kp = 8 index, which implies that it has been a “severe” storm, from G4 category (On a scale that goes to G5).

The value of the index has descended since then: the last data offered by the NOAA spatial meteorological prediction (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) indicates that the value Average Index KP In the last three hours it has been kp = 6. Despite this, spatial time is still scrambled and According to forecasts He will continue to be until tomorrow.

An ejection of coronal mass. According to He explained yesterday The Spanish Space Agency through a statement, the origin of this activity is in a high -speed coronal mass ejection (CME), associated solar fulguration of class M8.2 and with origin in the Ar4100 active region.

KP 8. What does that mean of kp = 8? The K Geomagnetic Index measures disruptions in the land magnetic field and is used to characterize the magnitude of geomagnetic storms, especially through the planetary index K or KP Index. The latter uses a series of magnetometers distributed in stations located in various parts of the planet.

The indices above kp = 5 are associated with a specific degree in the geomagnetic storm scale Employed by the NOAA SWPC, being G1 (minor) the smallest category on the scale and G5 (extreme) the category that denotes the strongest storms, those of index Kp = 9.

A G4 storm. The storm recorded on Sunday, with a Kp = 4 index led the center to alert a “severe” or G4 geomagnetic storm. In your noticethe SWPC pointed out that, in addition to intense northern lights and lower latitudes than usual, possible impacts on infrastructure and networks, including problems with satellites and loss of precision in the GPS.

The Category events They usually imply possible problems with voltage control that can also cause “mitigable” problems in electrical networks. At space vehicles, the SWPC indicates that these storms are associated with possible monitoring problems that require future corrections. Finally, other possible impacts are on the spread of HF radio signals and low frequency radio navigation.

An active solar cycle. The situation has stabilized With ups and downs And, although the last one average three -hour data from the KP index is 6, the SWPC has already reduced the intensity of the storm to G1, or minor storm.

The last months have been revolts as far as spatial meteorology is concerned. In October 2024, A similar situation He brought spectacular dawn. According to estimates From the experts we are already after the peak of activity of solar cycle 25, but we have not yet moved away much so the solar activity remains intense. Perhaps this is not the last storm of these characteristics that we see in the coming months.

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Image | Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (Soho) / SWPC/NOA