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When the Sun Caught Us Off Guard: Why Scientists Didn't See the Magnetic Storm
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.by Daniil Moskovsky [REGNUM] On the night of June 13, meteorologists looked at their instruments in confusion. The Earth's magnetic field suddenly jumped to G2.3, above average, although no one expected it. The storm came unexpectedly, forcing experts to admit that our ability to predict space weather is far from perfect.  Missed the boat is too harsh a word to describe the work of scientists who monitor solar activity around the clock. But the fact remains: a medium-intensity magnetic storm hit the planet completely unexpectedly. The laboratory of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences recorded an increase in plasma density and an increase in the magnetic field, but the speed of the plasma flow - the main indicator of an approaching ejection of solar matter - remained normal. 3D PUZZLE Alexander Shadov, a specialist in space weather, explained the complexity of the situation in a conversation with the Regnum news agency : "In essence, a magnetic storm is an ejection of a plasma cloud from the Sun that reaches the Earth. Scientists have two methods of observation: photographs of the luminary and data on the parameters of the solar wind at the L1 Lagrange point - a special region in space between the Sun and the Earth, where observation satellites are installed." The catch is that no more than two hours pass from the moment the emission is registered at the L1 point until it arrives on Earth - there is practically no time for preparation. Therefore, all long-term forecasts are based on images of the Sun, where specialists try to measure the speed, density and direction of the emission, and then create a three-dimensional model. “Obviously, creating three-dimensional models from flat photographs is a very difficult task, ” Shadov admits. “ And assessing the level of impact of the emission on the magnetosphere is even more difficult.” Astronomer Alexander Kiselev adds details: coronal mass ejections are especially insidious when they occur not from the central part of the solar disk, but from the edges: “If the ejection occurs from an area not located directly opposite the Earth, predicting its exact impact on our planet becomes much more difficult.” INVISIBLE RIVERS OF PLASMA But it's not just coronal mass ejections that can cause geomagnetic turmoil. Sometimes the culprits are solar wind streams from coronal holes — areas of low density in the solar corona. These cosmic "rivers" are less powerful, but if a coronal hole suddenly turns toward Earth or the stream turns out to be denser than predicted, the result is the same — a sudden storm. “This means that the Earth’s magnetosphere was subjected to an unexpected energy blow,” Kiselev explains the mechanism of what is happening. While people on Earth are clutching their heads, astronomers are observing fascinating pictures on the Sun itself. “Prominences are plasma that is held by the Sun’s magnetic fields, making them visible,” says Shadov. Unlike the simple Earth magnetic field with two poles, the solar magnetic field has a complex configuration with many entry and exit points for magnetic lines. It is this complexity that creates those fascinating prominences - huge arches of hot plasma that rise above the surface of the star for hundreds of thousands of kilometers. They can only be seen through special solar telescopes with H-alpha filters or during a total solar eclipse, when they become visible to the naked eye as reddish tongues of flame on the edge of the solar disk covered by the Moon. A HEADACHE ON A PLANETARY SCALE While scientists are sorting out the cosmic causes, doctors are recording quite mundane consequences. Neurobiologist Tatyana Smirnova, in a conversation with IA Regnum, admits: although the scientific community has not yet come to a consensus on the direct impact of magnetic storms on health, weather-sensitive people do experience an increase in unpleasant symptoms. "Those who are prone to migraines, hypotension or vegetative-vascular dystonia may experience fatigue, drowsiness, anxiety or headaches," the specialist explains. Presumably, fluctuations in the magnetic field affect the autonomic nervous system and increase vascular reactivity. The recipe for survival during geomagnetic disturbances is simple: reduce your workload, plan simple tasks, take breaks for walks and breathing exercises. If you have a headache, you should first try basic measures - fresh air, a cold compress, enough water - and only then resort to medication. "Weather dependence is not a death sentence, " Smirnova reassures. " It often intensifies with chronic fatigue, irregular sleep, and lack of movement." Prevention is simple: a stable regime, physical activity, foods with magnesium - buckwheat, nuts, dark chocolate. THE SITUATION REMAINS UNSTABLE However, Alexander Shadov calls not to dramatize the situation: "Magnetic storms are not at all scary, but incredibly beautiful phenomena. There is no evidence of their serious impact on humans, except perhaps that some people become obsessed with observing space weather." There are technical consequences, however: interruptions in radio communications, temporary failures in satellite operation, voltage fluctuations in power grids. But modern infrastructure is quite resistant to such impacts, and telecom operators and energy companies have long learned to take preventive measures when receiving warnings about geomagnetic disturbances. As for the nearest forecasts, analysts warn: the geomagnetic situation will remain unstable for the next two or three days. From June 13 to 14, the impact of a large coronal hole is expected, which may intensify the current storm or provoke a new wave of disturbances. The sudden magnetic storm of June 13 was another reminder: despite all the achievements of science, space is still capable of presenting surprises. The Sun remains an unpredictable neighbor, whose “moods” we have learned to read only partially. And perhaps this unpredictability has its own charm – it does not allow us to forget that humanity does not live in a vacuum, but in a Universe full of mysteries and surprises. Posted by: badanov 2025-06-14 |
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