Thank you for making it here ❤️
The solar flares blasted too intensely last weekend and tossed many of you to my profile. I welcome you all and want to begin by saying – you’re in the right place. A rare Geomagnetic Storm Auroras event painted skies across the globe. Here’s what sparked it and why this cosmic show was one for the history books.
The history was written on the night of 10th-11th May 2024.
Surpassing several previous records, it was one of the most severe Geomagnetic Storms ever!
What caused a severe G5-level Geomagnetic Storm Auroras on the 10th of May?
As you probably know, the Sun is close to the Solar Maximum Cycle, and one particular giant Sunspot 3664 has been blasting back-to-back CMEs. The same Sunspot fired multiple CMEs on the 8th of May, caused by the big X-Class flare (X5.8).
On the way to Earth, they merged to become a huge ball of plasma that arrived on the 10th of May. Things started peaking at about 1523 CET and prevailed for 18 hours or so. Remember, a typical corona takes about 48-72 hours to travel from the Sun to Earth’s surface (only if they are Earth-directed).
The plasma that entered Earth’s magnetic field was dense, full of charged particles that make up the essentials of the big Aurora Borealis. The world witnessed a unique event in Space Weather history. Since upper latitudes are too bright for Northern Lights watching, mid and lower latitudes were the biggest beneficiaries of this memorable event.
Aurora Sightings from Poland to the US! Why were Red Auroras visible so far south in the lower latitudes?
For the first time since 2003, the extreme G5 Geomagnetic Storm threshold was achieved, with the hp index reaching up to 12.
With an observed Dst reaching -412nT (severe), it was one of the strongest Geomagnetic Storms of the modern era, surpassing the Halloween Solar Storms of 2003 and the 1989 storm that knocked out power grids in Quebec. The Dst from 2003 still retains the highest record with -422nT.
The magnetic orientation (Bz) was deep south, matching values of -50 nT, making the Earth’s magnetic field incapable of controlling all the charged particles. It resulted in a vast expanded Aurora Oval that reached Iran, Italy, Spain, the Canary Islands, Mexico, North Africa, Hawaii, and even Leh in the Indian High Himalayas.
Northern Lights have been trending on the internet for the past 72 hours. Millions of stunning pictures of Auroras captured by frenzied fans have been shared from the northern and southern hemispheres. The twin sister of Aurora Borealis is Aurora Australis, AKA Southern Lights 😉
It was dubbed the strongest Geomagnetic Storm since 2003, surpassing several record parameters. Some also compare it to the famous Carrington Event of 1859, when blazing auroras were visible as far south as Mexico and Hawaii.
What is the Disturbance Storm Time (Dst) index?
The Disturbance Storm Time (Dst) index is a measure of geomagnetic activity used to assess the severity of geomagnetic storms. It is expressed in nanoTeslas based on the average value of the horizontal component of the Earth’s magnetic field measured at four near-equatorial geomagnetic observatories.
Dst measures the growth and recovery of the ring current in the Earth’s magnetosphere. The lower the values, the more energy is stored in Earth’s magnetosphere. It commonly indicates the severity of geomagnetic storms that reach the extreme G5 geomagnetic storm level. (Source: SpaceWeatherLive)
Are you overwhelmed with all the Space Weather values and parameters? Consider going through my previous blog – A Curious Dive into the World of Aurora Borealis & Solar Storm.
It will give you a better understanding of the most essential aspects affecting the Northern Lights.
Will we see more Geomagnetic Storms soon?
Hard to say! It is less likely. The sun is more active than ever, with several CME releases reported in the past months. But it’s tough to predict a storm of similar intensity. It is still possible in Northern and Central Europe and Central America, but for further south latitudes, it gets tricky.
Shots of shining red Auroras used in the blog were captured on Friday (10th May 2024) in the Las Osobowicki area of Wrocław, Poland.
What causes different Aurora colours? The Aurora changes colour depending on the altitude of the activity, where atmospheric elements influence the colour.
Read it here: All You Must Know About Northern Lights in Rovaniemi – Nature’s Impressive Spectacle in the Arctic Land
At the time of drafting this blog (13th of May 2024, 1300 CET)
Auroras were reported to be visible from several parts of Poland even last night (12th of May). However, there was only a faint glow in Wrocław last night. Some people spotted the lights close to Bielany Wrocław and updated on the Aurora App. The Northern Lights were visible even with a 2% viewing probability.
The Baltic Coast always has the advantage of being in the upper part of the mid-latitudes, so it often gets the biggest piece of the cake.
The point is – pushing hopes based on the Friday night storm can be a bummer.
There are many ifs and buts related to Space Weather, and several parameters must tick at the right moment to create crazy Auroras.
All I can say for now is that the Sun has woken up from its slumber, and we’re in the middle of the Solar Maximum.
Several sunspots are blasting X-Class and M-Class flares left and right. Another promising X-Class flare was produced from Sunspot 3664 just yesterday.
So, Stay Alert!
It’s time I introduced you to my profound connection with the Northern Lights and Space Weather.
Although I live and work as a full-time tour guide, tour curator, and content marketer in Poland, Auroras hold a special place in my heart.
That’s because I began my guiding journey in Lapland, the true North and home of the Auroras. In Lapland, the dark skies almost every night from August to April are adorned with the magical colours of the Aurora Borealis.
I worked in Lapland as a creator and guide during the autumn and winter seasons preceding the pandemic era.
Guiding aurora tours with some of the most talented aurora hunters and delving deeper into the specifics of Space Weather sparked a never-ending curiosity in me.
A passion that I’ve harboured and cherished over the years, regardless of my location.
All thanks to some highly accurate aurora tracking apps, the SpaceWeatherLive website, a few amazing aurora hunters I stumbled upon over the years, and my never-ending passion for the Northern Lights. I have learnt and understood several key Space Weather parameters.
The deeper you dive, the greater the curiosity about factors impacting NL, and so forth.
As fascinating as it may seem, it’s critical to understand that the Space Weather data and stats swing quickly, especially in lower latitudes like central and southern Europe.
The picture below is from my first aurora sighting back in August 2019.
Riding a quad bike under the Northern Lights is one of the most exciting things you can do.
Over the past 72 hours, I have received several queries about where to go and what to do to catch a glimpse of the magical show. To everyone reading this, please absorb every detail of this blog and visit all the interlinked articles. You will have far better clarity on the Space Weather and Aurora Borealis.
Did you watch this rare event? In case you missed the big show, stay updated with the latest solar events via the recommended apps, and keep an eye on the Northern horizon of the night sky.
To track the Space Weather activities in real-time, I highly recommend installing the apps – SpaceWeatherLive & Aurora. For detailed stats and more understanding of the parameters causing Geomagnetic Storm, bookmark the NOAA SWPC website.
Ultimately, if you want to skip all that and receive essential updates on Northern Lights, I invite you to subscribe to my blog and follow me on Instagram/Facebook – @whistlinghound.
Based on the live data from NOAA SWPC, I post frequent updates on social media. These days, I curate and carry out guided tours in Poland and also organise the Northern Lights tour in Lapland via my partner operators during the Aurora season.
If you enjoyed reading this blog, please share your thoughts in the comments below. If you think someone could use such detailed information, please share it with them. You will not only support my work but also spread some quality content on the internet.
Let’s keep in touch. Ciao.
#northernlights #auroraborealis #wroclaw #poland #geomagneticstorm
Thanks, this was a good article that cleared up some unanswered questions as I reflected on the events in May!
Are you from Poland? Is the job market and overall economy good there?
Anita (from NJ USA)
Thank you for you lovely comment, Anita! Yes, I live in Poland. 😊
Job market here is well inclined towards IT, and Fintech sector. And it attracts a lot of expats here.