Massive solar storm set to spark auroras across Canada this weekend
Friday, October 29th 2021, 4:45 pm - A spooky Halloween light show may shine in our skies thanks to a powerful X-class solar flare emitted by the Sun.We may be in for a special Halloween treat Saturday and Sunday nights. Auroras may be dancing across our skies thanks to an immense solar storm the Sun blasted out into space.On Thursday, October 28, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory was in the midst of its careful watch over the Sun. Of particular interest to space weather forecasters was a large, volatile sunspot cluster in the southern hemisphere, which they named Active Region 2887 (AR2887).
This cluster had been sparking and sputtering with minor and moderate flares for days. Around midday on Thursday, though, it suddenly blasted out an intense X1-class solar flare. The release of energy during the flare set off a 'solar tsunami' — a shockwave that spread out across nearly the entire face of the Sun.According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, this resulted in a strong radio blackout on the day side of Earth. Radio blackouts occur in the aftermath of strong solar flares, as the UV and x-rays from the flare disturb Earth's ionosphere, causing it to degrade or completely absorb high-frequency radio signals. This can completely disrupt radio communications between points on Earth's surface, and between the surface and satellite in orbit. A minor solar radiation storm has also been impacting Earth since the flare, due to solar protons being accelerated away from the flare region.
Auroras can be seen at pretty much any time of year in the far northern regions of Canada. However, during a geomagnetic storm, the arc the auroras follow pushes southward. The stronger the storm, the farther south the auroras can be seen.For a G3 geomagnetic storm, the auroras stretch down across all of Canada. They may even be seen from parts of southern Ontario which are usually too far south to view these displays, although clouds and city light pollution will limit what can be seen.
This cluster had been sparking and sputtering with minor and moderate flares for days. Around midday on Thursday, though, it suddenly blasted out an intense X1-class solar flare. The release of energy during the flare set off a 'solar tsunami' — a shockwave that spread out across nearly the entire face of the Sun.According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, this resulted in a strong radio blackout on the day side of Earth. Radio blackouts occur in the aftermath of strong solar flares, as the UV and x-rays from the flare disturb Earth's ionosphere, causing it to degrade or completely absorb high-frequency radio signals. This can completely disrupt radio communications between points on Earth's surface, and between the surface and satellite in orbit. A minor solar radiation storm has also been impacting Earth since the flare, due to solar protons being accelerated away from the flare region.
Auroras can be seen at pretty much any time of year in the far northern regions of Canada. However, during a geomagnetic storm, the arc the auroras follow pushes southward. The stronger the storm, the farther south the auroras can be seen.For a G3 geomagnetic storm, the auroras stretch down across all of Canada. They may even be seen from parts of southern Ontario which are usually too far south to view these displays, although clouds and city light pollution will limit what can be seen.
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