A geomagnetic storm could impact Earth’s atmosphere this week, and if it does, it could trigger a Northern Lights show over the Chicago area.
The Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G2/G3 geomagnetic storm watch on Sunday, estimating the effects of a coronal mass ejection could begin impacting Earth on Monday afternoon and continue to do so through Tuesday morning.
Currently the storm watch is a G2/G3 level on the Planetary K-index scale, but the SWPC says there is a chance for a G4-level event, which could push make the Northern Lights visible across wide swaths of the United States.
“Should the CME magnetic field be strong enough and its orientation favorable (opposite Earth’s), conditions could escalate quickly and lead to a chance of G4 levels,” the alert read.
A geomagnetic storm rated as a G3 on the scale typically produces a Planetary K-index level of seven, which could theoretically make the Northern Lights visible as far south as Illinois and Oregon, according to the SWPC.
In order to maximize chances of seeing the Northern Lights in such a scenario, residents would be urged to find a place with a clear view of the northern sky and one away from city lights, while allowing their eyes to adjust to the darkness for at least 15 minutes. Cameras can also pick up on the Northern Lights more than the naked eye in those situations.
Still, if a G4 storm occurs, things could be even more vivid. A G4-class storm is considered “severe,” and in addition to push the Northern Lights as far south as Alabama, it can also interfere with power systems and GPS systems, according to the SWPC.
Residents are encouraged to check with the SWPC beginning on Monday night. Even with a geomagnetic storm watch issued, the center says it won’t know the actual strength and structure of the coronal mass ejection until it is approximately one million miles from the Earth’s surface. Those particles will only take 20-to-50 minutes to reach Earth, which doesn’t give residents a lot of time to prepare for a Northern Lights show.
According to the SWPC, coronal mass ejections like the one impacting Earth on Monday carry charged atoms known as “ions.” When those ions collide with Earth’s magnetosphere, they release energy in the form of light, causing the phenomenon known as the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis.
Those lights tend to occur in different colors, including red, pink and green, and are generally only visible at higher latitudes. Stronger geomagnetic storms can push that display further south, with a G4-classified storm potentially visible across most of the continental United States.
Storms tend to fluctuate in intensity, making them hard to predict, so residents are urged to be patient if they’re hoping to see a show on Monday.
More information can be found on the SWPC’s website.
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