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Second-strongest geomagnetic storm occurs this year

23 June 2015 10:03 (UTC +04:00)

Baku – APA. On June 22 (the day the astronomic summer begins), some geo-effective ones of a few giant plasma clouds that was unleashed from the sun into space after solar flares have created strong G4 geomagnetic storm after entering the Earth’s magnetic field (the Earth’s magnetosphere), Deputy Director for Science of Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory named after Nasraddin Tusi of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) Elchin Babayev told APA.

According to him, the storm measured at G5 maximum and this type of storms is quite rare. “The storm was so strong that even its glitter was observed middle width circles. This storm was the second-strongest of both 2015 and the current year’s 11-year solar activity cycle. The first storm occurred on May 18 of this year. The geomagnetic storm is still on. The Kp index which characterizes the storm and has a maximal of degree of 9 is 8”.

Babayev said the storm will go on throughout the day and is also expected to continue on Wednesday with 70 percent likelihood.

“The facts that Z-component of the interplanetary magnetic field is moving to the south and a high-speed plasma wind is expected in coronal holes observed on the sun's flaming surface on June 24-25 (a strong solar wind usually begins from the open-part of the lines of magnetic flux) make space weather conditions complicated and unfavorable,” he added.

Geomagnetic tension depends on the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind speed, he said, adding that sunspots location 2371 (there are 77 sunspots) is so big that it can be visible with a matte glass even from the Earth.

Babayev also added that typical changes in meteorological conditions and space weather conditions in summer will be unfavorable for risk-group people.