{"id":796066,"date":"2025-05-13T00:36:06","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T05:36:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=796066"},"modified":"2025-05-13T00:36:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T05:36:06","slug":"global-and-interplanetary-view-of-the-biggest-geomagnetic-storm-in-20-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=796066","title":{"rendered":"Global and interplanetary view of the biggest geomagnetic storm in 20 years"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>In May 2024, Earth was struck by a rare G5 \u2013 Extreme geomagnetic storm, the strongest recorded in over twenty years. The storm was triggered by a series of powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from Active Region 3664 and was named the Gannon storm in tribute to space weather expert Jennifer Gannon. While it didn\u2019t cause catastrophic damage, it left scientists with a lot to unpack.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, data and observations from that event have helped in advancing efforts to better anticipate and manage extreme geomagnetic disturbances. There was no large-scale disaster, but the storm left its mark in many ways. From subtle disruptions to noticeable failures, its effects were felt both in space and on the ground.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"perfmatters-lazy-youtube\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9i47b__igEw\" data-id=\"9i47b__igEw\" data-query=\"feature=oembed\" onclick=\"perfmattersLazyLoadYouTube(this);\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><noscript><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What Happened During the Biggest Geomagnetic Storm in More than 20 Years\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9i47b__igEw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Power glitches and travel disruptions on Earth<\/h2>\n<p>The storm triggered a mix of electrical issues across parts of the Midwestern U.S. A few high-voltage lines went offline, some transformers ran too hot, and unmanned Global Positioning System (GPS) guided tractors struggled to stay on track.<\/p>\n<p>This severely disrupted the planting season, which had already been delayed by a wet spring. The impact varied by region, with farms relying heavily on GPS-guided equipment experiencing the most significant delays. While exact per-farm losses are unclear, some estimated place damage at USD 17 000 per farm, while national estimates suggest the agricultural sector incurred up to USD 500 million in damages.<\/p>\n<p>Air travel wasn\u2019t spared either. With rising radiation levels and patchy signals posing risks, several trans-Atlantic flights had to be rerouted mid-journey to keep crews and passengers safe.<\/p>\n<p>Although the additional radiation exposure remained within safe thresholds, disruptions to GPS and high-frequency radio systems over polar routes prompted precautionary diversions to ensure crew and passenger safety.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gannon storm effects from terrestrial infrastructure to planetary orbit<\/h2>\n<p>The storm caused a sharp rise in temperature in Earth\u2019s thermosphere. Normally topping out near 649\u00b0C (1 200\u00b0F) at about 161 km (100 miles) up, temperatures surged past 1 149\u00b0C (2 100\u00b0F) during the event. National Aeronautics and Space Administration\u2019s (NASA) Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission tracked the rapid expansion of this heated layer, which sent dense nitrogen particles climbing higher than usual on the back of powerful winds. <\/p>\n<p>It disrupted low-Earth orbit in several ways. As the atmosphere expanded, drag increased, slowing down many satellites. NASA\u2019s Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) lost elevation and switched to safe mode. Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment (CIRBE), a small research satellite, was pulled out of orbit months earlier than planned. European Space Agency\u2019s (ESA) Sentinel satellites used more fuel than usual to adjust their paths and avoid debris.<\/p>\n<p>The ionosphere also changed shape. A dense layer that normally sits over the equator at night dipped far south, creating a strange check-mark pattern and a temporary gap near the equator.<\/p>\n<p>NASA\u2019s Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) and Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions-Acceleration, Reconnection, Turbulence, and Electrodynamics of the Moon\u2019s Interaction with the Sun (THEMIS-ARTEMIS) missions recorded large, coiled waves of particles moving along the front of the solar eruptions. These spiraling structures funneled energy and plasma into the magnetosphere again and again. Each surge added to the buildup, triggering the most powerful current measured in that region in two decades.<\/p>\n<p>During the storm, CIRBE detected two new bands of high-energy particles that briefly appeared between Earth\u2019s permanent Van Allen radiation belts (named after American physicist James Van Allen). The temporary belts didn\u2019t stick around, but their presence mattered. Packed with fast-moving electrons and protons, they posed a potential hazard to satellites and crews in orbit.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"902\" height=\"708\" alt=\"gannon storm created two extra radiation belts\" class=\"wp-image-223167 perfmatters-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gannon-storm-created-two-extra-radiation-belts.webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gannon-storm-created-two-extra-radiation-belts.webp 902w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gannon-storm-created-two-extra-radiation-belts-300x235.webp 300w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gannon-storm-created-two-extra-radiation-belts-768x603.webp 768w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 902px) 100vw, 902px\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"902\" height=\"708\" src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gannon-storm-created-two-extra-radiation-belts.webp\" alt=\"gannon storm created two extra radiation belts\" class=\"wp-image-223167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gannon-storm-created-two-extra-radiation-belts.webp 902w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gannon-storm-created-two-extra-radiation-belts-300x235.webp 300w, https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/gannon-storm-created-two-extra-radiation-belts-768x603.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 902px) 100vw, 902px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Gannon storm created two extra radiation belts, sandwiched between the two permanent Van Allen Belts. One of the new belts, shown in purple, included a population of protons, giving it a unique composition that hadn\u2019t been seen before. The discovery of the new belts is particularly important for protecting spacecraft launching into geostationary orbits, since they travel through the Van Allen Belts several times before reaching their final orbit.<br \/>\nCredit: NASA\/Goddard Space Flight Center\/Kristen Perrin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>NASA\u2019s Aurorasaurus project received over 6 000 reports from observers in 55 countries, including sightings from every continent. In Japan, the lights took on an unusual magenta hue.<\/p>\n<p>Curious about the color shift, scientists analyzed hundreds of photos and discovered that the auroras had formed around 966 km (600 miles) higher than usual. The rare magenta auroras were caused by a blend of red and blue light from oxygen and nitrogen pushed to higher altitudes by the storm-heated atmosphere.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Incredible, Mind-blowing live visuals of the Night sky in majority of Europe right now! \ud83e\udd2f<\/p>\n<p>Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain, France are witnessing Northern Lights\/Aurora in sky thanks to ongoing Solar Storm!<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/solarstorm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#solarstorm<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/aurora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#aurora<\/a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/e57Dcxi9zo\">pic.twitter.com\/e57Dcxi9zo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Vishal Verma (@VishalVerma_9) <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/VishalVerma_9\/status\/1789039845202890911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 10, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mars\u2019 response to extreme solar activity<\/h2>\n<p>Between May 14 and 20, as the region that sparked the storm on Earth redirected toward Mars, NASA\u2019s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter captured stunning auroras as solar particles interacted with the atmosphere of Mars.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" loop=\"\" playsinline=\"\" class=\"perfmatters-lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/MAVEN-captures-mars-aurora-may-2024.webm\"\/><noscript><video controls=\"\" loop=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/MAVEN-captures-mars-aurora-may-2024.webm\" playsinline=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The purple color in this animated GIF shows auroras across Mars\u2019 nightside as detected by the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph instrument aboard NASA\u2019s MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN) orbiter. The brighter the purple, the more auroras were present. MAVEN took these images between May 14 and 20, 2024, as energetic particles from a solar storm were arriving at Mars. The sequence pauses at the end, when the most energetic particles arrived and overwhelmed the instrument with noise. MAVEN made the observations as it orbited below Mars, looking up at the nightside of the planet. (Mars\u2019 south pole can be seen on the right, in full sunlight.) Credit: NASA\/University of Colorado\/LASP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>NASA\u2019s 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter also suffered, as solar particles caused a temporary shutdown of the star camera for an hour. On Mars\u2019 surface, Curiosity\u2019s navigation cameras showed streaks from charged particles. Its Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) recorded the highest radiation levels (8 100 micrograys) since 2012.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video aligncenter\"><video controls=\"\" loop=\"\" playsinline=\"\" class=\"perfmatters-lazy\" data-src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mars-Gannon-Storm-SEPs.webm\"\/><noscript><video controls=\"\" loop=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Mars-Gannon-Storm-SEPs.webm\" playsinline=\"\"\/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The specks in this image sequence were caused by charged particles from the Sun hitting one of the navigation cameras aboard NASA\u2019s Curiosity Mars rover on May 20, 2024. The sequence also shows the effects of a wind gust that happened to occur at the same time on the Martian surface. Credit: NASA\/JPL-Caltech<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Gannon storm stands as the most documented and studied geomagnetic event in history, with data collected expected to be analyzed for years to come.<\/p>\n<p><!-- MOLONGUI AUTHORSHIP PLUGIN 5.0.15 --><br \/>\n<!-- https:\/\/www.molongui.com\/wordpress-plugin-post-authors --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/watchers.news\/2025\/05\/13\/global-and-interplanetary-view-of-the-biggest-geomagnetic-storm-in-20-years\/?rand=772108\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In May 2024, Earth was struck by a rare G5 \u2013 Extreme geomagnetic storm, the strongest recorded in over twenty years. The storm was triggered by a series of powerful&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":796067,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-796066","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-space-weather-reports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/796066","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=796066"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/796066\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/796067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=796066"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=796066"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=796066"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}