The Geomagnetic Observatory - Panagyurishte of the National Institute of Geophysics, Geodesy and Geography at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) recorded values of an extremely strong magnetic storm in the early hours of the day, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Petya Trifonova - geophysicist at the NIGGG-BAS told BTA.
She explained that “a magnetic storm of the highest class was registered on the territory of Bulgaria tonight and this is the result of the cannonade of solar eruptions over the last three days”.
“On November 9, 10 and 11, there were three consecutive solar eruptions of the highest class. The solar region that produced these eruptions at that moment was in geo-effective orbit and was centrally directed precisely at planet Earth. Even then, it was certain that the plasma stream that erupted from the sun could not fail to hit the Earth and, depending on its parameters - such as density, speed, it could penetrate or part of it could penetrate the Earth's magnetosphere. The Sun erupts and sends a wave of charged particles - protons and electrons, which collide with the magnetic shield of the magnetosphere, which enter the Earth's atmosphere and form a magnetic storm. This happened in the early hours of that night - everywhere on Earth, but this wave did not simultaneously enter all points of the Earth and began to spread. On the territory of our country, this happened that night. The disturbances are of the highest degree and the K-index 9 has been reached, which is the maximum, and therefore we have an extremely strong magnetic storm of the highest class", explained Assoc. Prof. Trifonova.
She noted that there were three days of consecutive eruptions and the magnetic storm is expected to continue later tonight or tomorrow. When asked whether it can be said that this is the strongest magnetic storm this year, Assoc. Prof. Petya Trifonova replied that “such an index is reached for the first time this year - index 9 is the maximum”. Last year, such an index was reached in May, when auroras were observed, recalled the geophysicist from NIGGG-BAS.
She explained that magnetic storms affect some more sensitive people, causing them headaches, rapid heartbeat, arrhythmia, anxiety or sleep disturbances.
Of the technologies, the most vulnerable to magnetic storms are satellites, which may lose contact with the Earth, disrupt control, and may even fall in altitude due to the higher density of the atmosphere. Telecommunications are also affected; if the magnetic storms continue longer, power transmission systems, power lines and transformers may also be affected, said Assoc. Prof. Trifonova.
The strength of magnetic storms is determined in degrees and is indicated by the so-called K-index. The degrees of this index vary from 0 to 9. At values from 0 to 3, the index bars are colored green (the field is calm), at 4 - yellow (caution!), there are observed disturbances in the field, and at values from 5 and above - red, a storm has been registered.