Geomagnetic storms are drastic changes in the Earth's magnetic field caused by solar activity and are a natural phenomenon. Geomagnetic storms will have varying degrees of impact on the Earth's space environment, atmosphere, power system, communication system, aerospace vehicles, etc., and may even have a certain impact on human health.
According to the geomagnetic index, the magnitude of geomagnetic storms can be classified as moderate magnetic storms (-50 nt> minimum dst> -100 nt), intensity magnetic storms (-100 nt> minimum dst> -250 nt), or super magnetic storms (minimum dst).
The hazards and effects of geomagnetic storms are as follows:
Impact on the space environment: Geomagnetic storms will change the magnetic field structure around the earth, so that some satellites in high orbits, such as geostationary satellites, lose the protection of the magnetic field and are directly affected by the solar wind, which may lead to problems such as loss of attitude control, equipment damage, and data loss of satellites.
Impact on the atmosphere: Geomagnetic storms will heat up and expand the lower atmosphere, causing an increase in the density of the upper atmosphere, which will increase the flight resistance of the spacecraft, causing the orbital altitude of the spacecraft to decrease or even fall prematurely. Geomagnetic storms can also cause ionospheric storms, which affect the transmission and reception of radio and satellite communications.
Impact on the power system: Geomagnetic storms can induce electric potential and current on the ground, overloading transformers and transmission lines, causing grid failures and possibly even power outages and equipment damage.
Impact on human health: Geomagnetic storms produce electromagnetic radiation, which may cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and insomnia in people who are sensitive to meteorology, and may also increase the incidence of diseases such as heart disease and stroke.
A byproduct of geomagnetic storms is auroras, which are formed by charged particles in the solar wind that excite atoms and molecules in the atmosphere to emit light. The color and shape of the aurora depends on the interaction of the solar wind and the atmosphere, and is usually green and purple, but also other colors such as red and blue. Auroras are generally only visible at high latitudes, but during strong geomagnetic storms, they can spread to lower latitudes and even near the equator, making them breathtaking.
If there is a small to moderate magnetic storm next Monday, it may not have much impact on our lives, but we still need to pay attention to some possible hazards, such as turning off some unnecessary electronic devices in time, avoiding the use of satellite navigation systems, paying attention to weather changes, and maintaining good health. If we have the chance, we can also enjoy the beautiful aurora, which is a gift from a geomagnetic storm.