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Geomagnetic perturbations expected in Azerbaijan April 20-21

18 April 2011 15:17 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva â€“ APA. Weak geomagnetic perturbations will be felt in latitudes, where Azerbaijan is located, on April 21-22, Elchin Babayev, deputy director of the Nasiraddin Tusi Observatory in Shamakhi, told APA. He said some newspapers mistakenly described this phenomenon like geomagnetic storm and confused the people.

â€œAn indication of the level of geomagnetic perturbation on planetary scale is given by Kp index, which is 3 now. It is low level of perturbation. Kp index the scale is between 0 and 9 but each unity. Increase of perturbations will not cause geomagnetic stormsâ€.

Babayev explained reasons of geomagnetic perturbations expected on April 21-22. â€œThe perturbations will begin in the evening on April 20 and be felt on April 21. It is a massive burst of solar wind, other light isotope plasma, and magnetic fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space. Local geomagnetic perturbations begin when Kp is above 4. Currently there are 67 sunspots and three sunspot regions and weak solar flares are observed. Reports describing geomagnetic perturbation as geomagnetic storm are not true. The geomagnetic storm was observed in October-November, 2003. It was being felt in our latitudes too and damaged technical systems. It occurs once or twice in every 11 yearsâ€.

Babayev said intensive oscillation of atmosphere pressure has been observed recently. Such meteorological changes create discomfort for the people. â€œSome people mix it up with weatherâ€™s effect. If geomagnetic and meteorological changes coincide, it will create joint effect. We recommend to the sensitive people, elders, children and the people with poor health to rest during in these casesâ€.

Babayev called this event normal. â€œ11-year solar cycle will be close to its maximum in 2013-2014. It will increase solar flares an coronal mass ejectionsâ€.