Three plasma clouds are simultaneously traveling toward Earth and could trigger geomagnetic storms, scientists at the Solar Astronomy Laboratory warned, according to NUR.KZ, reports infohub.kz.
According to the researchers, the first plasma cloud was ejected on October 6 during an M1.4-class solar flare. It will reach Earth today after 20:00, causing G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storms.
"The other two clouds, which left the Sun a day apart on October 7 and 8, are forecast to merge en route to Earth into a single structure and strike the planet together on Sunday in the middle of the day. A second storm of the same G2 level as the first is preliminarily forecast for that time," the statement said.
The laboratory added that overall solar and geomagnetic activity since the start of October has shown a noticeable increase compared to the unusually quiet first month of autumn.
"At the moment, the activity has an uncertain, choppy character and looks more like the burning of randomly acquired energy reserves than a systemic breakout from the bottom. The fact that yesterday the strongest flare since August was registered does not change this assessment in any way. The event was preceded by a pause in flares lasting almost a day, and the energy could simply have accumulated," the scientists explained.
It is forecast that the two expected impacts on Earth in this case will be the final concluding chord of solar activity.