Aurora at zenith, Onawa, Iowa, U.S. (42°N GLAT, 51°N MLAT)
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} |
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{{Infobox storm |
{{Infobox solar storm |
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| title = May 2024 solar storms |
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| image = |
| image = Northern Lights From Over the North Pole (NESDIS 2024-05-15 nhem-aurora-labels).png |
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| caption = [[Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite|VIIRS]] image showing the aurora borealis over the Northern Hemisphere on 10–11 May. |
| caption = [[Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite|VIIRS]] image showing the aurora borealis over the Northern Hemisphere on 10–11 May. |
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| noaa = 13664 |
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| type = [[Geomagnetic storm]] |
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| ar-sxr-flares = X8.7 |
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| ⚫ | |||
| g-scale = 5 |
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| ⚫ | |||
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| k-index = 9 |
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| a-index = 271 |
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| notes = Peak [[Dst index]] of −412 nT and [[K-index#The daily average amplitude A-index|''A''<sub>p</sub>-index]] of 271 on 11 May |
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| dst = −412 nT |
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| ⚫ | |||
| g-peak-onset = {{Start date|2024|05|11|df=y}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
| solar-cycle = 25 |
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}} |
}} |
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The '''solar storms of May 2024''' were a series of powerful [[solar storm]]s with extreme [[solar flare]]s and [[geomagnetic storm]] components that occurred from 10–13 May 2024 during [[solar cycle 25]]. The geomagnetic storm was the most powerful to affect Earth since [[March 1989 geomagnetic storm|March 1989]]{{efn|It had the largest peak negative Dst index ( |
The '''solar storms of May 2024''' were a series of powerful [[solar storm]]s with extreme [[solar flare]]s and [[geomagnetic storm]] components that occurred from 10–13 May 2024 during [[solar cycle 25]]. The geomagnetic storm was the most powerful to affect Earth since [[March 1989 geomagnetic storm|March 1989]],{{efn|It had the largest peak negative Dst index (−412nT) of any G5-class storm since 1989.}} and produced [[aurorae]] at far more equatorial latitudes than usual in both the [[Northern Hemisphere|Northern]] and [[Southern Hemisphere|Southern Hemispheres]].<ref name="NYT-20240511nyt">{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Katrina |last2=Penn |first2=Ivan |last3=Lindner |first3=Emmett |date=11 May 2024 |title=Northern Lights Set to Return During Extreme Solar Storm's 2nd Night – Electrical utilities said they weathered earlier conditions as persistent geomagnetic storms were expected to cause another light show in evening skies. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/11/science/northern-lights-aurora-solar-storm.html |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240512045153/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/11/science/northern-lights-aurora-solar-storm.html |archivedate=12 May 2024 |accessdate=12 May 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ralls |first=Eric |date=10 May 2024 |title=Auroras expected all weekend across the U.S. as massive solar storm hits Earth |url=https://www.earth.com/news/auroras-southern-united-states-this-week-huge-solar-storm |website=Earth.com |language=en |access-date=11 May 2024 |archive-date=11 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511021410/https://www.earth.com/news/auroras-southern-united-states-this-week-huge-solar-storm/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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== Solar flares and coronal mass ejections == |
== Solar flares and coronal mass ejections == |
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[[File:10-14May2024KpIndex.png|thumb|261px|right|Values of the three-hour [[K-index|''K''<sub>p</sub>-index]] from 10–14 May 2024]] |
[[File:10-14May2024KpIndex.png|thumb|261px|right|Values of the three-hour [[K-index|''K''<sub>p</sub>-index]] from 10–14 May 2024]] |
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As a result of the [[interplanetary magnetic field]] reaching a magnitude of {{Val|73|ul= |
As a result of the [[interplanetary magnetic field]] reaching a magnitude of {{Val|73|ul=nanotesla}} (nT), with the component along Earth's magnetic axis oriented south reaching as much as {{Val|-50|u=nT}}, the moderately high [[solar wind]] density, and the solar wind speed reaching {{cvt|750–950|km/s}} between 11 and 12 May (UTC time), the event was classified as a G5-class geomagnetic storm (''K''<sub>p</sub> = 9), making it the most intense storm since the [[2003 Halloween solar storms]].<ref name="SWL11">{{cite news |date=11 May 2024 |title=Strongest geomagnetic storm since 2003, X5.8 solar flare |url=https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/news/view/538/20240511-strongest-geomagnetic-storm-since-2003-x5-8-solar-flare.html |access-date=11 May 2024 |publisher=SpaceWeatherLive |archive-date=11 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511145207/https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/news/view/538/20240511-strongest-geomagnetic-storm-since-2003-x5-8-solar-flare.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Viewing archive of Saturday, 11 May 2024 Solar wind (Speed, Density), Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) (Bt, Bz) |url=https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/archive/2024/05/11/aurora.html |access-date=13 May 2024 |website=SpaceWeatherLive |archive-date=13 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513020532/https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/archive/2024/05/11/aurora.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Several other CMEs were expected to reach Earth on 11 and 12 May.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 May 2024 |title=SWPC Issues Its First G4 Watch Since 2005 |url=https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/swpc-issues-its-first-g4-watch-2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510235824/https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/swpc-issues-its-first-g4-watch-2005 |archive-date=10 May 2024 |access-date=11 May 2024 |publisher=[[Space Weather Prediction Center]] }}</ref> |
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=== Comparison to other geomagnetic storms === |
=== Comparison to other geomagnetic storms === |
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The May 2024 solar storms reached a peak Dst index of {{Value|−412|u=nT}} at 03:00 UTC on 11 May.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Real-time Dst Index |url=https://wdc.kugi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dst_realtime/202405/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510215952/https://wdc.kugi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dst_realtime/202405/index.html |archive-date=10 May 2024 |access-date=11 May 2024 |website=World Data Center for Geomagnetism, Kyoto}}</ref> |
The May 2024 solar storms reached a peak Dst index of {{Value|−412|u=nT}} at 03:00 UTC on 11 May.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Real-time Dst Index |url=https://wdc.kugi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dst_realtime/202405/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510215952/https://wdc.kugi.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dst_realtime/202405/index.html |archive-date=10 May 2024 |access-date=11 May 2024 |website=World Data Center for Geomagnetism, Kyoto}}</ref> |
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The [[K-index#The daily average amplitude A-index|''A''<sub>p</sub>-index]] of 11 May 2024 was 271, higher than the ''A''<sub>p</sub>-indexes of 13 and 14 March 1989, significantly higher than the ''A''<sub>p</sub>-indexes of 29 |
The [[K-index#The daily average amplitude A-index|''A''<sub>p</sub>-index]] of 11 May 2024 was 271, higher than the ''A''<sub>p</sub>-indexes of 13 and 14 March 1989, significantly higher than the ''A''<sub>p</sub>-indexes of 29 and 30 October and 20 November 2003, and the second-highest ever recorded, after the ''A''<sub>p</sub>-index of 13 November 1960, which was 280.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 50 geomagnetic storms |url=https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/auroral-activity/top-50-geomagnetic-storms.html |access-date=21 May 2024 |website=SpaceWeatherLive |archive-date=21 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521003045/https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/auroral-activity/top-50-geomagnetic-storms.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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== Aurora sightings == |
== Aurora sightings == |
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Three CMEs from 8 May reached Earth on 10 May 2024, causing severe to extreme geomagnetic storms with bright and very long-lasting aurorae. |
Three CMEs from 8 May reached Earth on 10 May 2024, causing severe to extreme geomagnetic storms with bright and very long-lasting aurorae. |
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In [[North America]], aurorae were seen across the [[United States]] as far south as the [[Florida Keys]],<ref name="NYT-20240510">{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Katrina |last2=Jones |first2=Judson |title=Solar Storm Intensifies, Filling Skies With Northern Lights |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/science/solar-storm-earth.html |date=10 May 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive. |
In [[North America]], aurorae were seen across the [[United States]] as far south as the [[Florida Keys]],<ref name="NYT-20240510">{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Katrina |last2=Jones |first2=Judson |title=Solar Storm Intensifies, Filling Skies With Northern Lights |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/science/solar-storm-earth.html |date=10 May 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240511063252/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/science/solar-storm-earth.html |archivedate=11 May 2024 |accessdate=11 May 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Fritz |first1=Angela |last2=Hammond |first2=Elise |last3=Lau |first3=Chris |date=10 May 2024 |title=Live updates: The latest on the massive solar storm |url=https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/geomagnetic-solar-storm-northern-lights-05-10-24/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511003901/https://www.cnn.com/weather/live-news/geomagnetic-solar-storm-northern-lights-05-10-24/index.html |archive-date=11 May 2024 |access-date=11 May 2024 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=11 May 2024 |title='Unbelievable!': Northern Lights seen in South Florida from 'severe' solar storm |url=https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/northern-lights-seen-in-south-florida-from-severe-solar-storm/3308263/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511124021/https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/northern-lights-seen-in-south-florida-from-severe-solar-storm/3308263/ |archive-date=11 May 2024 |access-date=11 May 2024 |publisher=[[NBC 6 South Florida]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> as well as from the [[Yucatán Peninsula]] in [[Mexico]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2024 |title=Auroras boreales por primera vez en Yucatán |trans-title=Aurora borealis for the first time in Yucatán |url=https://tribunacampeche.com/11/auroras-boreales-por-primera-vez-en-yucatan/683451/ |website=Tribuna Campeche |trans-website=Campeche Tribune |access-date=12 May 2024 |language=es |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512084755/https://tribunacampeche.com/11/auroras-boreales-por-primera-vez-en-yucatan/683451/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[The Bahamas]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Lights Likely To Illuminate Night Sky Again Amid "Extreme" Solar Storm |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/northern-lights-auroras-likely-to-illuminate-night-sky-again-amid-extreme-solar-storm-5643690 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=NDTV.com |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512112829/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/northern-lights-auroras-likely-to-illuminate-night-sky-again-amid-extreme-solar-storm-5643690 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jamaica]],<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=严茂强 |title=Stunning red sky over China wins fans online |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202405/15/WS664411d1a31082fc043c7279.html |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn |archive-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515155658/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202405/15/WS664411d1a31082fc043c7279.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-11 |title=Josh on X: "Taken with my iPhone unfiltered from Ocho Rios Jamaica..." |url=https://x.com/joshnorthsouth/status/1789126774888005881 |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=X.com |language=en }}</ref> and [[Puerto Rico]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garofalo |first=Meredith |date=2024-05-13 |title=How a giant sunspot unleashed solar storms that spawned global auroras that just dazzled us all |url=https://www.space.com/giant-sunspot-ar3664-solar-storms-aurora |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Space.com |language=en |archive-date=15 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515042717/https://www.space.com/giant-sunspot-ar3664-solar-storms-aurora |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-11 |title=Paco Bellido on X:『¡La aurora se ha visto hasta en Puerto Rico!...』|url=https://x.com/ElbesoenlaLuna/status/1789226353792881024 |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=X.com |language=en }}</ref> The aurora was also seen in [[Hawaii]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schenfeld |first=Nikki |date=2024-05-12 |title=Northern lights seen in Hawaii! First time in over a century |url=https://www.khon2.com/local-news/northern-lights-seen-in-hawaii-first-time-in-over-a-century/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512203523/https://www.khon2.com/local-news/northern-lights-seen-in-hawaii-first-time-in-over-a-century/ |archive-date=12 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=KHON2 |language=en}}</ref> |
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Aurorae were seen across [[Europe]] from as far south as [[Portugal]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Tobi |date=2024-05-11 |title=Northern lights visible in the skies of Portugal |url=https://www.madeiraislandnews.com/2024/05/northern-lights-visible-in-the-skies-of-portugal.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514044949/https://www.madeiraislandnews.com/2024/05/northern-lights-visible-in-the-skies-of-portugal.html |archive-date=14 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Madeira Island News Blog |language=en}}</ref> [[Spain]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ortiz |first1=Marina |date=11 May 2024 |title=La tormenta geomagnética más fuerte de los últimos 20 años provoca una gran aurora boreal visible en toda España |trans-title=The strongest geomagnetic storm of the past 20 years causes a great aurora borealis visible in all of Spain |url=https://www.abc.es/ciencia/gran-aurora-boreal-ilumina-cielos-espana-visibles-20240511101814-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.es%2Fciencia%2Fgran-aurora-boreal-ilumina-cielos-espana-visibles-20240511101814-nt.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512084702/https://www.abc.es/ciencia/gran-aurora-boreal-ilumina-cielos-espana-visibles-20240511101814-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.es%2Fciencia%2Fgran-aurora-boreal-ilumina-cielos-espana-visibles-20240511101814-nt.html |archive-date=12 May 2024 |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=ABC Ciencia |publisher=Diario ABC, S.L. |language=Spanish}}</ref> and [[Sardinia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Onano |first=Giorgio Ignazio |date=2024-05-11 |title=The Northern Lights color the Sardinian night: the show from the north to the south of the island |url=https://www.unionesarda.it/en/sardinia/the-northern-lights-color-the-sardinian-night-the-show-from-the-north-to-the-south-of-the-island-u2bu86bk |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=L'Unione Sarda English |language=en |archive-date=19 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519024305/https://www.unionesarda.it/en/sardinia/the-northern-lights-color-the-sardinian-night-the-show-from-the-north-to-the-south-of-the-island-u2bu86bk |url-status=live }}</ref> Aurorae were also visible in [[Algeria]] and the [[Canary Islands]] in [[Africa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Due to the solar storm, and in a historical precedent, the northern lights were seen from Algeria and areas on the equator |url=https://www.arabiaweather.com/content/%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%81%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%82-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AE%D8%B7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1 |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=www.arabiaweather.com |language=en |archive-date=20 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520113630/https://www.arabiaweather.com/ar/content/%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%81%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%82-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AE%D8%B7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-11 |title=Canary Islands witness the spectacle of the Northern Lights |url=https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/Canary-Islands-witness-the-spectacle-of-the-Northern-Lights |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514042838/https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/Canary-Islands-witness-the-spectacle-of-the-Northern-Lights |archive-date=14 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Canarian Weekly |language=en}}</ref> |
Aurorae were seen across [[Europe]] from as far south as [[Portugal]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Tobi |date=2024-05-11 |title=Northern lights visible in the skies of Portugal |url=https://www.madeiraislandnews.com/2024/05/northern-lights-visible-in-the-skies-of-portugal.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514044949/https://www.madeiraislandnews.com/2024/05/northern-lights-visible-in-the-skies-of-portugal.html |archive-date=14 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Madeira Island News Blog |language=en}}</ref> [[Spain]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ortiz |first1=Marina |date=11 May 2024 |title=La tormenta geomagnética más fuerte de los últimos 20 años provoca una gran aurora boreal visible en toda España |trans-title=The strongest geomagnetic storm of the past 20 years causes a great aurora borealis visible in all of Spain |url=https://www.abc.es/ciencia/gran-aurora-boreal-ilumina-cielos-espana-visibles-20240511101814-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.es%2Fciencia%2Fgran-aurora-boreal-ilumina-cielos-espana-visibles-20240511101814-nt.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512084702/https://www.abc.es/ciencia/gran-aurora-boreal-ilumina-cielos-espana-visibles-20240511101814-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.es%2Fciencia%2Fgran-aurora-boreal-ilumina-cielos-espana-visibles-20240511101814-nt.html |archive-date=12 May 2024 |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=ABC Ciencia |publisher=Diario ABC, S.L. |language=Spanish}}</ref> and [[Sardinia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Onano |first=Giorgio Ignazio |date=2024-05-11 |title=The Northern Lights color the Sardinian night: the show from the north to the south of the island |url=https://www.unionesarda.it/en/sardinia/the-northern-lights-color-the-sardinian-night-the-show-from-the-north-to-the-south-of-the-island-u2bu86bk |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=L'Unione Sarda English |language=en |archive-date=19 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519024305/https://www.unionesarda.it/en/sardinia/the-northern-lights-color-the-sardinian-night-the-show-from-the-north-to-the-south-of-the-island-u2bu86bk |url-status=live }}</ref> Aurorae were also visible in [[Algeria]] and the [[Canary Islands]] in [[Africa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Due to the solar storm, and in a historical precedent, the northern lights were seen from Algeria and areas on the equator |url=https://www.arabiaweather.com/content/%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%81%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%82-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AE%D8%B7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1 |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=www.arabiaweather.com |language=en |archive-date=20 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240520113630/https://www.arabiaweather.com/ar/content/%D8%A8%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%82%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%81%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%B1-%D9%88%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%82-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AE%D8%B7-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-11 |title=Canary Islands witness the spectacle of the Northern Lights |url=https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/Canary-Islands-witness-the-spectacle-of-the-Northern-Lights |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514042838/https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/Canary-Islands-witness-the-spectacle-of-the-Northern-Lights |archive-date=14 May 2024 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Canarian Weekly |language=en}}</ref> |
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At 00:19 UTC on 13 May, the [[GOES-16]] satellite, the primary operational geostationary [[weather satellite]] in the GOES East position, providing a view centered on the Americas, stopped transmitting all data. The transmission of data resumed nearly 2 hours later at 02:00 UTC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Correction: Length of the Outage/Event |url=https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/messages/2024/05/MSG_20240513_0343.html |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=www.ospo.noaa.gov |archive-date=13 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513123602/https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/messages/2024/05/MSG_20240513_0343.html |url-status=live }}</ref> There was a second loss of data transmission shortly after, lasting 11 minutes from 03:19 UTC to 03:30 UTC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Topic: GOES-16 All Products and derived products delivered to AWIPS, GRB, PDA |url=https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/messages/2024/05/MSG_20240513_0358.html |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=www.ospo.noaa.gov |archive-date=13 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513123752/https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/messages/2024/05/MSG_20240513_0358.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |
At 00:19 UTC on 13 May, the [[GOES-16]] satellite, the primary operational geostationary [[weather satellite]] in the GOES East position, providing a view centered on the Americas, stopped transmitting all data. The transmission of data resumed nearly 2 hours later at 02:00 UTC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Correction: Length of the Outage/Event |url=https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/messages/2024/05/MSG_20240513_0343.html |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=www.ospo.noaa.gov |archive-date=13 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513123602/https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/messages/2024/05/MSG_20240513_0343.html |url-status=live }}</ref> There was a second loss of data transmission shortly after, lasting 11 minutes from 03:19 UTC to 03:30 UTC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Topic: GOES-16 All Products and derived products delivered to AWIPS, GRB, PDA |url=https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/messages/2024/05/MSG_20240513_0358.html |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=www.ospo.noaa.gov |archive-date=13 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513123752/https://www.ospo.noaa.gov/data/messages/2024/05/MSG_20240513_0358.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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Other impacts to satellite services include [[Starlink]]'s fleet of low-orbiting satellites, which experienced degraded service because of the intensity of the solar storms, but remained operational.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shetti |first1=Utkarsh |date=11 May 2024 |title=Musk's Starlink satellites disrupted by major solar storm |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/starlink-experiencing-degraded-service-musk-says-satellites-under-pressure-2024-05-11/ |access-date=11 May 2024 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |editor-last1=Williams |editor-first1=Alison |editor-first2=Potter |editor-last2=Mark}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1789173902289338518 |user=elonmusk |title=Major geomagnetic solar storm happening right now. Biggest in a long time. Starlink satellites are under a lot of pressure, but holding up so far. |first=Elon |last=Musk |author-link=Elon Musk |date=11 May 2024 |access-date=11 May 2024}}</ref> |
Other impacts to satellite services include [[Starlink]]'s fleet of low-orbiting satellites, which experienced degraded service because of the intensity of the solar storms, but remained operational.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shetti |first1=Utkarsh |date=11 May 2024 |title=Musk's Starlink satellites disrupted by major solar storm |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/starlink-experiencing-degraded-service-musk-says-satellites-under-pressure-2024-05-11/ |access-date=11 May 2024 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |editor-last1=Williams |editor-first1=Alison |editor-first2=Potter |editor-last2=Mark |archive-date=13 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513035300/https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/starlink-experiencing-degraded-service-musk-says-satellites-under-pressure-2024-05-11/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1789173902289338518 |user=elonmusk |title=Major geomagnetic solar storm happening right now. Biggest in a long time. Starlink satellites are under a lot of pressure, but holding up so far. |first=Elon |last=Musk |author-link=Elon Musk |date=11 May 2024 |access-date=11 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1789838269418471902 |user=SpaceX |title=All @Starlink satellites on-orbit weathered the geomagnetic storm and remain healthy |author-link=SpaceX |date=12 May 2024 |access-date=25 May 2024}}</ref> |
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==Gallery== |
==Gallery== |
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|File:Auroral_Corona_Onawa_IA.jpg|Aurora at zenith, [[Onawa, Iowa]], U.S. (42°N GLAT, 51°N MLAT) |
|File:Auroral_Corona_Onawa_IA.jpg|Aurora at zenith, [[Onawa, Iowa]], U.S. (42°N GLAT, 51°N MLAT) |
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|File:Solar Storm of May 10, 2024 over Viola, Arkansas.jpg|[[Viola, Arkansas]], U.S. (36°N GLAT, 46°N MLAT) |
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|File:May 2024 Aurora SC.jpg|[[Pawleys Island, South Carolina]], U.S. (33°N GLAT, 43°N MLAT) |
|File:May 2024 Aurora SC.jpg|[[Pawleys Island, South Carolina]], U.S. (33°N GLAT, 43°N MLAT) |
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|File:Palm Trees and Auroras In Mazatlan.jpg|[[Mazatlán]], Mexico (23°N GLAT, 31°N MLAT) |
|File:Palm Trees and Auroras In Mazatlan.jpg|[[Mazatlán]], Mexico (23°N GLAT, 31°N MLAT) |
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|File:Aurora Borealis from Cwmbran, Wales.png|[[Cwmbran|Cwmbran, Wales]], U.K. (51°N GLAT, 47°N MLAT) |
|File:Aurora Borealis from Cwmbran, Wales.png|[[Cwmbran|Cwmbran, Wales]], U.K. (51°N GLAT, 47°N MLAT) |
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|File:20240510_XE3_Aurora_Borealis_(May_10_2024_solar_storms)_as_seen_from_Kraków_01_postpro.jpg|[[Kraków]], Poland (50°N GLAT, 46°N MLAT) |
|File:20240510_XE3_Aurora_Borealis_(May_10_2024_solar_storms)_as_seen_from_Kraków_01_postpro.jpg|[[Kraków]], Poland (50°N GLAT, 46°N MLAT) |
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|File: |
|File:Aurora Borealis on May 10 11, 2024 (25006510595).jpg|[[Oria, Apulia|Oria]], Italy (40°N GLAT, 34°N MLAT) |
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| ⚫ |
|File:Aurora |
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|File:May 2024 aurora over Xinjiang.jpg|[[Altay Prefecture|Altay]], China (48°N GLAT, 44°N MLAT) |
|File:May 2024 aurora over Xinjiang.jpg|[[Altay Prefecture|Altay]], China (48°N GLAT, 44°N MLAT) |
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|File: |
|File:May 2024 aurora in Perth Australia.jpg|[[Perth]], Australia (32°S GLAT, 43°S MLAT) |
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| ⚫ | |File:Aurora Australis From Melbourne.jpg|[[Melbourne]], Australia (38°S GLAT, 48°S MLAT) |
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|File:Aurora in Auckland, New Zealand 11 May 2024.jpg|[[Auckland]], New Zealand (37°S GLAT, 42°S MLAT) |
|File:Aurora in Auckland, New Zealand 11 May 2024.jpg|[[Auckland]], New Zealand (37°S GLAT, 42°S MLAT) |
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|File:Aurora austral.jpg|[[Quillón]], Chile (36°S GLAT, 24°S MLAT) |
|File:Aurora austral.jpg|[[Quillón]], Chile (36°S GLAT, 24°S MLAT) |
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VIIRS image showing the aurora borealis over the Northern Hemisphere on 10–11 May.
| |
| Associated solar active region | |
|---|---|
| NOAA region no. | 13664 |
| Largest SXR flares | X8.7 |
| G5 "Extreme" geomagnetic storm | |
| G-scale (NOAA/SWPC) | |
| Initial onset | 10 May 2024 (2024-05-10) |
| Peak onset | 11 May 2024 (2024-05-11) |
| Dissipated | 13 May 2024 (2024-05-13) |
| Peak Kp-index | 9 |
| Peak Ap-index | 271 |
| Peak Dst | −412 nT |
Part of solar cycle 25 | |
The solar storms of May 2024 were a series of powerful solar storms with extreme solar flares and geomagnetic storm components that occurred from 10–13 May 2024 during solar cycle 25. The geomagnetic storm was the most powerful to affect Earth since March 1989,[a] and produced aurorae at far more equatorial latitudes than usual in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.[1][2]
On 8 May 2024, a solar active region which had been assigned the NOAA region number 13664 (AR3664) produced an X1.0-class and multiple M-class solar flares and launched several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) toward Earth.[3] On 9 May, the active region produced an X2.25- and X1.12-class flare each associated with a full-halo CME. On 10 May, the region produced an X3.98-class flare, and on 11 May at 01:23 UTC it produced another X-class flare of magnitude 5.4–5.7 with another asymmetrical full-halo CME.[4][5][6] The region also caused an S1 solar radiation storm with spikes reaching S2.[7] On 14 May, as the most active region 3664 rotated beyond the sun's western limb, the strongest flare occurred, an X8.7, causing level R3 (strong) radio blackouts.[8]
As a result of the interplanetary magnetic field reaching a magnitude of 73 nanotesla (nT), with the component along Earth's magnetic axis oriented south reaching as much as −50 nT, the moderately high solar wind density, and the solar wind speed reaching 750–950 km/s (470–590 mi/s) between 11 and 12 May (UTC time), the event was classified as a G5-class geomagnetic storm (Kp = 9), making it the most intense storm since the 2003 Halloween solar storms.[9][10] Several other CMEs were expected to reach Earth on 11 and 12 May.[11]
The disturbance storm time index (Dst index) is a measure in the context of space weather. A negative Dst index means that Earth's magnetic field is weakened.[12] This is particularly the case during solar storms, with a higher negative Dst index indicating a stronger solar storm.
The 2003 Halloween solar storms had a peak Dst index of −383 nT, although a second storm on 20 November 2003 reached −422 nT while not reaching G5-class.[13][14] The March 1989 geomagnetic storm had a peak Dst index of −589 nT,[15] while the May 1921 geomagnetic storm has been estimated to have had a peak Dst index of −907±132 nT. Estimates for the peak Dst index of the Carrington Event superstorm of 1859 are between −800 nT and −1750 nT.[16]
The May 2024 solar storms reached a peak Dst index of −412 nT at 03:00 UTC on 11 May.[17]
The Ap-index of 11 May 2024 was 271, higher than the Ap-indexes of 13 and 14 March 1989, significantly higher than the Ap-indexes of 29 and 30 October and 20 November 2003, and the second-highest ever recorded, after the Ap-index of 13 November 1960, which was 280.[18]
Three CMEs from 8 May reached Earth on 10 May 2024, causing severe to extreme geomagnetic storms with bright and very long-lasting aurorae.
InNorth America, aurorae were seen across the United States as far south as the Florida Keys,[21][22][23] as well as from the Yucatán PeninsulainMexico,[24] The Bahamas,[25] Jamaica,[26][27] and Puerto Rico.[28][29] The aurora was also seen in Hawaii.[30]
Aurorae were seen across Europe from as far south as Portugal,[31] Spain,[32] and Sardinia.[33] Aurorae were also visible in Algeria and the Canary IslandsinAfrica.[34][35]
InAsia, aurorae could be seen from Turkey,[36] Cyprus,[37] Iran,[38] Japan,[39] northern India,[40] and across northern China,[26] including near the cities of Urumqi and Beijing.[41][42]
InAustralia, aurorae were seen as far north as Townsville and MackayinQueensland,[43][44] while in the rest of the Southern Hemisphere aurorae were seen in New Zealand,[45] Chile, Argentina,[46] South Africa,[47] and as far north as New Caledonia,[48] Uruguay, southern Brazil,[49] and Namibia.[47]
While aurorae were able to be seen on camera from many locations across the globe, at locations farther away from the poles where the aurora is less bright, the aurora can often appear desaturated, achromatic, or even invisible to the naked eye as a result of the Purkinje effect.[50][51]
Camera technology has improved since the last G5-class geomagnetic storm in 2003, with even standard cell phone cameras having enough sensitivity to pick up the colours of an aurora.[52] Consequently, images of aurorae were spread widely across social media, with much public excitement being generated during the event.[53] The ability to document aurorae at such a wide scale has provided a large opportunity to learn more about the phenomenon.[52]
The storm negatively affected ground-based broadcasting and two-way radio communications, especially on the HF band and to a lesser extent the VHF and UHF bands, because it increased the density of the D layer of the ionosphere, causing absorption and thus interfering with propagation.[54][55]
In Canada, power companies BC Hydro and Hydro-Québec stated that they had prepared for the storm, and monitored it as its ejecta struck Earth on 10–11 May. Unlike in 1989 where a previous solar storm caused a nine-hour long power outage in Québec, no outages were reported as a result of the storm's effects.[56][57]
In New Zealand, Transpower declared a grid emergency, and took some transmission lines out of service as a precaution against the storm.[58]
In the United States, telecommunications companies AT&T and T-Mobile stated that they were prepared to respond to disruptions in their networks, but it was predicted that significant impacts to cell service were unlikely because the networks rely on different frequencies than the HF bands affected by the solar storm.[59] While the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that there were power grid irregularities and degradation in GPS and high-frequency radio communications,[60] both the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the United States Department of Energy reported no significant impacts to the population.[61]
Agricultural users of John Deere RTK GPS equipment reported significantly degraded positional accuracy during the geomagnetic storm. As the GPS receivers are used to guide tractors in precision agriculture, certain agricultural workers were forced to suspend planting activities entirely.[62][63]
University of Victoria researchers discovered that the geomagnetic storm triggered compasses in sub-sea observatories deployed as deep as 2.7 km under the ocean’s surface.[64]
Some aerial drone users flying during the storm experienced unusual behavior, including difficulty maintaining a stable hover, disruption of GPS signals, and in some cases a sudden loss of control which resulted in a crash.[65][66] Drones rely on GPS and magnetic signals to maintain position during flight, which are affected by geomagnetic activity.
At 00:19 UTC on 13 May, the GOES-16 satellite, the primary operational geostationary weather satellite in the GOES East position, providing a view centered on the Americas, stopped transmitting all data. The transmission of data resumed nearly 2 hours later at 02:00 UTC.[67] There was a second loss of data transmission shortly after, lasting 11 minutes from 03:19 UTC to 03:30 UTC.[68]
Other impacts to satellite services include Starlink's fleet of low-orbiting satellites, which experienced degraded service because of the intensity of the solar storms, but remained operational.[69][70][71]
Auroras were visible in many regions around the world, and far from the magnetic poles. These figures demonstrate the spread of the aurorae on the night of 10 and 11 May. Captions indicate geographic latitude (GLAT) first, and magnetic latitude (MLAT) second, using the quasi-dipole latitude of IGRF-13 model.
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