A geomagnetic storm is a major disturbance of Earth’s magnetosphere that occurs when there is a very sudden release of energy from the sun. This energy is stored in the form of magnetic field lines that are wrapped around Earth. When these lines are disturbed, they can cause a disruption of the Earth’s magnetic field, which in turn can cause auroras, power outages, and other problems.
Geomagnetic storms are caused by solar activity, specifically coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar flares. CMEs are huge eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s surface. Solar flares are smaller eruptions that happen on the sun’s surface. Both of these events can hurl massive amounts of charged particles toward Earth, where they interact with our planet’s magnetic field.
The most common type of geomagnetic storm is called a substorm. Substorms typically last for about an hour and happen when CMEs or solar flares interact with Earth’s magnetosphere. During a substorm, there is a sudden release of energy stored in the form of magnetic field lines wrapped around Earth. This release causes auroras to appear in the sky and can also disrupt power grids and communication systems.
More severe geomagnetic storms are called superstorms. Superstorms are much rarer than substorms and usually last for several days. They occur when multiple CMEs or solar flares interact with Earth’s magnetosphere simultaneously. Superstorms can cause widespread auroras, power outages, and communication disruptions. In extreme cases, they can even damage satellites orbitingEarth