A magnetic storm began on Earth on May 17. The geomagnetic storm was caused by plasma flows from a new coronal hole on the Sun, according to the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the IKI and ISZF.
The speed of the solar wind reached 500 km/s. This exceeds the average of 400 km/s. The interplanetary magnetic field has increased by 3–4 times, and the temperature of the surrounding gas has risen to 300 thousand degrees.
In the morning, the magnetic storm continued from 4 to 8 hours Moscow time and reached level G2.3 on a five-point scale. This indicator is considered high for such a wind speed. The main increase in solar activity is expected during the day, which may lead to increased geomagnetic disturbances.
Currently, the geomagnetic situation has stabilized due to the southern direction of the magnetic field. However, the coronal hole continues to grow, and new disturbances await the Earth in the next two days.
In general, there are at least two days of living in new conditions ahead, and, most likely, even more - the hole is growing rapidly.
Earlier www1.ru reported that magnetic storms are expected on the weekend due to an active coronal hole on the Sun.
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