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Space Weather Alert - 14th April 2022

What Has Happened?

credit: NASA/GSFC/SDO, movie generated using helioviewer.org.

 

A full-halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) erupted from the Sun at approximately 05:20UT on 11th April. It was associated with a filament lifting off from an Earth-facing active region in the southeast quadrant. This CME is predicted to arrive in the second half of 14th April.

Geomagnetic activity has already been enhanced during the last 24 hours by the arrival of a CME that left the Sun on 9th April, also associated with a filament. If the CME from 11th April arrives whilst the solar wind remains disturbed this could lead to significant disturbances to the geomagnetic field, with an outside chance for geomagnetic conditions to reach STORM G3 levels, although STORM G2 is more likely.

Assuming clear, dark skies, there is a greater chance of seeing the aurora on 14th April. Those in Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland have a better chance, if the weather is favourable on 14th April.

 

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Glossary

BGS
The British Geological Survey is one of the Natural Environment Research Council's Research Centres.

CME or Coronal Mass Ejection
The eruption of a portion of the outer atmosphere of the Sun into space, caused by rapid changes in its magnetic field. Often occurs along with a solar flare.

Filament Eruption
An eruption of solar plasma (i.e. ions and electrons) associated with the upward movement of solar magnetic field lines into the corona. Filaments are usually dark against the bright solar disk but can appear bright (as 'erupting prominences') on the limbs of the Sun against the darkness of space. Filaments are often associated with CMEs

Solar Flare
Energy released by the explosive reorganisation of magnetic fields within the Sun's atmosphere.

Sunspot/Active Region
A region of intense magnetic field in the Sun's visible outer atmosphere often associated with flares and CMEs.