Scientists warn of magnetic storms expected on Friday
Minimal-level magnetic storms are expected on Friday around midday due to a medium-sized plasma ejection passing near the Earth, scientists from the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported.
“Minimal-level magnetic storms, classified as G1, are expected tomorrow around midday as a result of a medium-sized plasma ejection that left the Sun on January 6 and is passing near our planet,” the scientists said.
They added that, given the significant lateral displacement of the plasma cloud, the forecast remains rather unstable.
“With even a very slight deviation of the ejection to the left, it will pass by the Earth without any geomagnetic consequences, whereas an ‘error’ in the opposite direction could lead to a noticeable intensification of geomagnetic fluctuations compared to the calculated values,” the scientists noted.
Since the beginning of the year, the level and number of solar flares have remained low, with no signs of intensification in the coming days. Over the next two days, a moderate increase in solar wind speed is possible due to the appearance of another coronal hole of a rather unusual shape on the side of the Sun facing the Earth, the scientists emphasized.
