Space Weather Events of August 12, 2024
- August 12, 2024 15:36 Eastern time
A severe magnetic storm commenced on the morning of August 11. The storm is presently ongoing, but per the USGS geomagnetic monitoring service, it appears to have attained a maximum level of disturbance on August 12 at about 14:00 Eastern Time. According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center geomagnetic disturbance index, which classifies storms on a scale from G1 (minor)-G5 (extreme), the present storm has, so far, attained a G4 (severe) level of disturbance.
Storms of this intensity sometimes interfere with aeromagnetic surveys, directional drilling for oil and gas, satellite operations, GPS positioning and timing signals, and over-the-horizon radio communication, but they do not usually cause interruption of electric-power-transmission.
Last night, according to spaceweather.com, aurorae were reported relatively far south, in Texas, Mississippi, and Arizona.
In comparison, the magnetic storm of May 10-12, 2024, attained a G5 level of disturbance, and the magnetic storm of June 27-28, 2024, attained a G4 level. Since we are presently in the ascending phase of the solar cycle, there is a high chance of several G4 storms occurring in the next year or two.
The storm is being monitored at USGS magnetometer stations. During this storm, geomagnetic declination at Barrow, Alaska, has varied by about 7.3 degrees, enough to be seen on a compass. A conventional measure of magnetic-storm strength is the (low-latitude) disturbance index known as Dst. This index measures disturbance relative to quiet, non-stormy conditions. So far, the USGS version of the Dst index has attained a maximum (negative) value of -204 nT, and the Kyoto Dst index has attained a value of -203 nT. For comparison, the storm of May 10-12, 2024, attained a value of –422 nT. The great storm of March 1989, which caused widespread interference to technological systems around the world, including power systems in the U.S. and a power blackout in Québec, attained a Dst value of -589 nT. The Carrington superstorm of September 1859, which caused widespread interference to telegraph systems, attained a Dst value of about -900 nT.
The USGS Geomagnetism Program operates 14 magnetic observatories across the U.S. and territories; the Program collaborates with the Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory in operation of variometers across CONUS; and it supports magnetotelluric surveys. The Geomagnetism Program disseminates magnetic data in real-time to governmental (both civilian and military), academic, and private institutions. Program scientists conduct research into the nature of geomagnetic variations for purposes of scientific understanding and hazard mitigation.
Sincerely, Jeffrey J. Love and Gavin Hayes
For press enquiries, please contact Jeffrey J. Love (jlove@usgs.gov).
General enquiries about the Geomagnetism Program should be directed to Kristen A. Lewis (klewis@usgs.gov).
Space Weather Events of August 12, 2024
- August 12, 2024 15:36 Eastern time
A severe magnetic storm commenced on the morning of August 11. The storm is presently ongoing, but per the USGS geomagnetic monitoring service, it appears to have attained a maximum level of disturbance on August 12 at about 14:00 Eastern Time. According to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center geomagnetic disturbance index, which classifies storms on a scale from G1 (minor)-G5 (extreme), the present storm has, so far, attained a G4 (severe) level of disturbance.
Storms of this intensity sometimes interfere with aeromagnetic surveys, directional drilling for oil and gas, satellite operations, GPS positioning and timing signals, and over-the-horizon radio communication, but they do not usually cause interruption of electric-power-transmission.
Last night, according to spaceweather.com, aurorae were reported relatively far south, in Texas, Mississippi, and Arizona.
In comparison, the magnetic storm of May 10-12, 2024, attained a G5 level of disturbance, and the magnetic storm of June 27-28, 2024, attained a G4 level. Since we are presently in the ascending phase of the solar cycle, there is a high chance of several G4 storms occurring in the next year or two.
The storm is being monitored at USGS magnetometer stations. During this storm, geomagnetic declination at Barrow, Alaska, has varied by about 7.3 degrees, enough to be seen on a compass. A conventional measure of magnetic-storm strength is the (low-latitude) disturbance index known as Dst. This index measures disturbance relative to quiet, non-stormy conditions. So far, the USGS version of the Dst index has attained a maximum (negative) value of -204 nT, and the Kyoto Dst index has attained a value of -203 nT. For comparison, the storm of May 10-12, 2024, attained a value of –422 nT. The great storm of March 1989, which caused widespread interference to technological systems around the world, including power systems in the U.S. and a power blackout in Québec, attained a Dst value of -589 nT. The Carrington superstorm of September 1859, which caused widespread interference to telegraph systems, attained a Dst value of about -900 nT.
The USGS Geomagnetism Program operates 14 magnetic observatories across the U.S. and territories; the Program collaborates with the Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory in operation of variometers across CONUS; and it supports magnetotelluric surveys. The Geomagnetism Program disseminates magnetic data in real-time to governmental (both civilian and military), academic, and private institutions. Program scientists conduct research into the nature of geomagnetic variations for purposes of scientific understanding and hazard mitigation.
Sincerely, Jeffrey J. Love and Gavin Hayes
For press enquiries, please contact Jeffrey J. Love (jlove@usgs.gov).
General enquiries about the Geomagnetism Program should be directed to Kristen A. Lewis (klewis@usgs.gov).