"(CNN) A powerful burst of energy from the sun is streaming past Earth, disturbing energized particles in the highest levels of the atmosphere and painting stunning aurora borealis displays across the night sky as far south as Texas, Alabama, Georgia and even Florida. Several eruptions of energy from the sun, known as coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are expected to reach Earth's magnetic field over the next two nights. The Space Weather Prediction Center issued a G4 severe geomagnetic storm watch for Tuesday and Wednesday."
"Geomagnetic storms happen when the solar wind rushes through Earth's magnetosphere. Charged particles from the sun interact with gases in the Earth's atmosphere, causing stunning northern lights, or glowing curtains of green, red and purple light that ripple across the sky. It's not all beauty and wonder; a G4 storm brings potential for voltage control problems in power systems, GPS navigation errors and intermittent issues with radio and satellite operations."
Multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from an active sunspot cluster are streaming toward Earth and are expected to reach the magnetic field over the next two nights. The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a G4 severe geomagnetic storm watch for Tuesday and Wednesday; G4 is the second-strongest level on the five-step scale. Geomagnetic storms occur when solar wind disturbs Earth's magnetosphere and charged particles interact with atmospheric gases, producing aurora borealis visible as far south as Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. A G4 storm can cause voltage control problems in power systems, GPS navigation errors and intermittent radio and satellite issues, though most people will experience only spectacular skies. An additional, even stronger CME is expected midday Wednesday, increasing aurora visibility farther south.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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