Key Points
Solar flares and CME are both caused by the sun through its magnetic field being twisted and stressed through motions in the sun, Daniel Brown, an associate professor in astronomy and science communication at Nottingham Trent University in the U.K., told Newsweek..
When a CME hits the Earth, it can cause a geomagnetic storm, which is a disturbance of the Earths magnetic field and atmosphere by the solar plasma..
A geomagnetic storm occurs when the Earths magnetic field is seriously disrupted by eruptions from the sun, Huw Morgan, head of the Solar Physics group at Aberystwyth University in the U.K., quoted to Newsweek..
When a large plasma storm erupts from the sun, and that storm carries a magnetic field which is oriented in an opposite direction to Earths magnetic field, we have a perfect storm, and a larger geomagnetic storm..
However, when a CME arrives and triggers a geomagnetic storm, these particles are pushed deeper into the atmosphere, where they collide with more gases and create a brighter and wider aurora..
You might be interested in
Never-before-seen aurora dazzle skies in Ladakh as geomagnetic storm hits Earth | Watch
01, May, 23This was the first time that the aurora was captured on camera in India by the Indian Astronomical Observatory.
Satellites in danger, risk of collision high as Earth’s atmosphere heats up
05, Jun, 23The increased solar activity with several geomagnetic storms is pummeling the planet and the Earth’s atmosphere is heating up.
Eruption from Sun to hit Earth at speed of 3.6 million kmph, trigger geomagnetic storm
11, May, 23The plasma blast erupted from the Sun in the late hours of May 9, with a large section of it directed towards Earth.
Dangerous geomagnetic storm hits Earth, lights up skies from Poland to Germany
24, Apr, 23As the coronal mass ejection slammed into Earth's magnetic field it triggered auroras that lit up the night skies in several countries of the world.
'Five storms headed towards Earth!': World bracing for first 'geomagnetic storm' in nearly 20 years
11, May, 24The last time there was a G5 or extreme geomagnetic storm was in October 2003, when it caused power outages in Sweden and damaged transformers in South Africa.
Geomagnetic storm from Sun to hit Earth. Migratory birds, satellites most vulnerable
09, May, 23The US-based Space Weather Prediction Center forecasted that the May 7 CME could trigger a G1 class minor geomagnetic storm on Earth.
Mega-bubble collapsed on Sun triggering an explosion to hit Earth. But then...
13, Jun, 23What surprised astronomers about this event was that the bubble had triggered a coronal mass ejection that was expected to slam into Earth.
Strongest solar flare from Sun to hit Earth today, geomagnetic storms likely
02, Jan, 24A close encounter with the resulting coronal mass ejection (CME) from the flare is likely today, which is expected to slam our planet's magnetic field.
Mega eruption from Sun to strike Earth on Friday, experts warn caution
30, Nov, 23The impending Cannibal CME is the result of two earlier solar storms, with NASA models predicting a significant impact on Earth.
NASA warns solar storm may hit earth on November 30, can disrupt mobile communications
30, Nov, 23Solar storms typically disrupt radio and GPS signals. As a potent eruption of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun's corona, a CME can interact with Earth's magnetic field and ionosphere, leading to geomagnetic storms and auroras.