Earth has encountered a prolonged geomagnetic storm. Disturbances began around midnight on March 20, twenty hours after colliding with a plasma cloud. The magnetosphere resisted the pressure of the solar ejection for almost a day, but eventually gave way. According to experts, the unstable situation will continue until March 24.
Employees of the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy of IKI and ISZF reported that the event was caused by several plasma ejections at the beginning of the week and the activity of coronal holes on the side of the Sun facing our planet. Forecasts have been repeatedly adjusted towards strengthening the storm. The exact dynamics of the process remain unpredictable.
Geomagnetic instability can affect the operation of satellites and communication systems. Technical services need to take into account possible failures in the coming days. The scenario of the event's development corresponds to the expectations of scientists, but the risk of serious interference still remains.
The storm was accompanied by auroras of maximum intensity. The zone of the brightest glow shifted towards Europe. The night sky over European countries demonstrates impressive effects.