Sunspot 4479 Hurls Earth-Bound CME as G2-G3 Geomagnetic Storm Looms on July 2
Updated
Updated · India Today · Jul 1
Sunspot 4479 Hurls Earth-Bound CME as G2-G3 Geomagnetic Storm Looms on July 2
3 articles · Updated · India Today · Jul 1
Summary
A full-halo CME from sunspot 4479 is heading almost directly toward Earth, with NASA and NOAA models pointing to arrival sometime on July 2 and storm strength of G2 to G3.
The eruption followed a June 30 solar flare that ionized the upper atmosphere and briefly knocked out HF radio signals below 25 MHz across parts of North America and the Pacific.
NOAA expects the solar storm to hit earlier on July 2, while NASA's model shows a later arrival, leaving the exact timing uncertain over the next 48 hours.
G2-G3 geomagnetic storms can disrupt satellites, GPS, radio links, power systems and polar-route airline communications, while also pushing auroras farther south than usual.
The event comes near the peak of Solar Cycle 25, when rising sunspot and flare activity has made disruptive space-weather events more frequent.