solar flares

  • A large sunspot cluster has produced several moderate to strong solar flares since Wednesday, May 8, 2024. At least five flares were associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that appear to be Earth-directed. “CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. They cause geomagnetic storms when they are directed at Earth. Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio and satellite operations,” NOAA explains. Courtesy: NASA
    Energy Security

    Historic Solar Storm Spurs PJM to Extend Geomagnetic Disturbance Warning

    Grid operator PJM Interconnection has issued a geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) warning after observing “persistent geomagnetically induced current (GIC) at multiple stations” late on Friday.  PJM initially issued a GMD warning on May 10 to generators and transmission operators that an ongoing severe solar storm could affect its system between 1:48 p.m. and 9 p.m. on […]

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    Legal & Regulatory

    Severe Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S. Grid for Months, Study Says

    A severe solar storm striking the continental U.S. could cause trillions of dollars in damage to the global economy and shut down portions of the U.S. grid for up to a year, according to a new study prepared by the Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies for insurance firm AIG. The study, Helios Solar Storm Scenario, […]