Solar activity, degrading LEO satellites and potential disruptions to GPS

[Cidertom]

So the good old sun coughed up a major hairball. The geomagnetic storm may produce aurora to the N half of USA. It may also affect GPS reliability and the last time it was this strong some LEO satellites were also affected such as IMARSAT. Some of the other effects are power transmission line control and alarms. One lesser known effect is it can induce major current flow in long metallic pipelines, as in thousand amps.

www.swpc.noaa.gov

 

[Melensdad]

Severe solar storm warning issued, NOAA says: Northern lights may be visible in Alabama

A severe geomagnetic storm could bring northern lights as far south as Alabama Sunday and Monday.

www.al.com

Severe solar storm warning issued, NOAA says: Northern lights may be visible in Alabama​

By

• Leada Gore | lgore@al.com

Aurora Borealis over Michigan Keweenaw Peninsula | Isaac Diener PhotographyIsaac Diener
A severe geomagnetic storm could bring northern lights as far south as Alabama Sunday and Monday.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center issued a Geomagnetic Storm Alert on Sunday due to a larger-than-expected eruption resulting in a solar flare. The storm was originally rated as a minor G1 or G2 storm on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s five-point scale but was later upgraded to a G4 storm, the New York Post reported.

A G1 rating is credited for producing the common auroras over Alaska and Canada. Under the right conditions, G3 ratings can produce auroras to be seen as far south was Washington, Wisconsin and New York. Fox Weather reported a G4 storm – predicted to last through Monday – could make Northern Lights visible as far south as Alabama and northern California.

Cloud cover can impact what people in the south will be able to see, though a faint light may be visible late Sunday into Monday. It’s more likely the furthest south the lights will be seen is northern Illinois and central Iowa.

No adverse effects from the magnetic storm are expected though NOAA said there is an increased possibility of effects on satellite operations or issues with GPS.

Aurora is the name given to the flow or lights produced when electrons from space flow to Earth’s magnetic field and collide with atoms and molecules of the atmosphere in a run or oval centered on the magnetic pole of the Earth, NOAA explains. The collisions produce lights similar to how electrons flowing through gas in a neon light collide with neon and other gasses to create colored light bulbs.

Technically called Aurora Borealis, aurora is called the Northern Lights in the northern hemisphere and Southern lights in the southern hemisphere. The biggest and most active auroras are produced by Coronal Mass Ejections like the one that occurred this week, NOAA said.

 

[Melensdad]

 

[Melensdad]

There is apparently a possibility of a much bigger solar event in October. Possibly a G8

 

[Melensdad]

So the good old sun coughed up a major hairball. The geomagnetic storm may produce aurora to the N half of USA. It may also affect GPS reliability and the last time it was this strong some LEO satellites were also affected such as IMARSAT. Some of the other effects are power transmission line control and alarms. One lesser known effect is it can induce major current flow in long metallic pipelines, as in thousand amps.

www.swpc.noaa.gov

No "Northern Lights" visible here, but we had heavy clouds.

I didn't even try to use the GPS.

Nor did I think to test the SPOT X to see if I could reach one of the Globalstar communications satellites.

HAM radios should have had some disruptions, especially at HF.

I didn't hear of any widespread complaints of issues reported. I'm sure things were, but people may not have realized the cause and may have just thought they experienced a glitch with their system. Anyone hear of experience any issues?