The Extreme Space Weather Event in 1903 October/November: An Outburst from the Quiet Sun (original) (raw)
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The Intensity and Evolution of the Extreme Solar and Geomagnetic Storms in 1938 January
The Astrophysical Journal, 2021
Major solar eruptions occasionally direct interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) to Earth and cause significant geomagnetic storms and low-latitude aurorae. While individual extreme storms are significant threats to modern civilization, storms occasionally appear in sequence, acting synergistically, and cause “perfect storms” on Earth. The stormy interval in 1938 January was one of such cases. Here, we analyze the contemporary records to reveal its time series on their source active regions, solar eruptions, ICMEs, geomagnetic storms, low-latitude aurorae, and cosmic-ray (CR) variations. Geomagnetic records show that three storms occurred successively on January 17/18 (Dcx ≈ −171 nT), January 21/22 (Dcx ≈ −328 nT), and January 25/26 (Dcx ≈ −336 nT). The amplitudes of the CR variations and storm sudden commencements (SSCs) show the impact of the first ICME as the largest (≈6% decrease in CR and 72 nT in SSC) and the ICMEs associated with the storms that followed as more modera...
The Extreme Solar and Geomagnetic Storms on 20-25 March 1940
2022
In late March 1940, at least five significant solar flares were reported. They likely launched interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), and were associated with one of the largest storm sudden commencements (SSCs) since the year 1868, resulting in space weather hazards that today would have significant societal impacts. The initial solar activity is associated with a short geomagnetic storm and a notable SSC. Afterward, the third flare was reported in the eastern solar quadrant (N12 E37-38) at 11:30–12:30 UT on 23 March, with significant magnetic crochets (up to ≈ |80| nT at Eskdalemuir) during 11:07–11:40 UT. On their basis, we estimate the required energy flux of the source flare as X35±1 in soft X-ray class. The resultant ICMEs caused enormous SSCs (up to > 425 nT recorded at Tucson) and allowed us to estimate an extremely inward magnetopause position (estimated magnetopause standoff position ≈ 3.4 RE). The time series of the resultant geomagnetic storm is reconstructed ...
Research on Historical Records of Geomagnetic Storms
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 2004
In recent times, there has been keen interest in understanding Sun-Earth connection events, such as solar flares, CMEs and concomitant magnetic storms. Magnetic storms are the most dramatic and perhaps important component of space weather effects on Earth. Super-intense magnetic storms (defined here as those with Dst < -500 nT, where Dst stands for the disturbance storm time index that measures the strength of the magnetic storm) although relatively rare, have the largest societal and technological relevance. Such storms can cause life-threatening power outages, satellite damage, communication failures and navigational problems. However, the data for such magnetic storms is rather scarce. For example, only one super-intense magnetic storm has been recorded (Dst=-640 nT, March 13, 1989) during the space-age (since 1958), although such storms may have occurred many times in the last 160 years or so when the regular observatory network came into existence. Thus, research on historical geomagnetic storms can help to create a good data base for intense and super-intense magnetic storms. From the application of knowledge of interplanetary and solar causes of storms gained from the spaceage observations applied to the super-intense storm of September 1-2, 1859, it has been possible to deduce that an exceptionally fast (and intense) magnetic cloud was the interplanetary cause of this geomagnetic storm with a Dst -1760 nT, nearly 3 times as large as that of March 13, 1989 super-intense storm. The talk will focus on super-intense storms of September 1-2, 1859, and also discuss the results in the context of some recent intense storms.
Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate
Extreme geomagnetic storms are considered as one of the major natural hazards for technology-dependent society. Geomagnetic field disturbances can disrupt the operation of critical infrastructures relying on space-based assets, and can also result in terrestrial effects, such as the Quebec electrical disruption in 1989. Forecasting potential hazards is a matter of high priority, but considering large flares as the only criterion for early-warning systems has demonstrated to release a large amount of false alarms and misses. Moreover, the quantification of the severity of the geomagnetic disturbance at the terrestrial surface using indices as Dst cannot be considered as the best approach to give account of the damage in utilities. High temporal resolution local indices come out as a possible solution to this issue, as disturbances recorded at the terrestrial surface differ largely both in latitude and longitude. The recovery phase of extreme storms presents also some peculiar feature...
Solar and interplanetary sources of major geomagnetic storms during 1996–2002
Journal of Geophysical Research, 2004
1] During the 7-year period of the current solar cycle, 64 geoeffective coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were found to produce major geomagnetic storms (D ST < À100 nT) at the Earth. In this paper we examine solar and interplanetary properties of these geoeffective coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The observations reveal that full-halo CMEs are potential sources of intense geomagnetic activity at the Earth. However, not all fullhalo CMEs give rise to major geomagnetic storms, which complicates the task of space weather forecasting. We examine solar origins of the geoeffective CMEs and their interplanetary effects, namely, solar wind speed, interplanetary shocks, and the southward component of the interplanetary magnetic field, in order to investigate the relationship between the solar and interplanetary parameters. In particular, the present study aims at ascertaining solar parameters that govern important interplanetary parameters responsible for producing major geomagnetic storms. Our investigation shows that fast full-halo CMEs associated with strong flares and originating from a favorable location, i.e., close to the central meridian and low and middle latitudes, are the most potential candidates for producing strong ram pressure at the Earth's magnetosphere and hence intense geomagnetic storms. The results also show that the intensity of geomagnetic storms depends most strongly on the southward component of the interplanetary magnetic field, followed by the initial speed of the CME and the ram pressure.
Geomagnetic storms: historical perspective to modern view
Geoscience Letters
The history of geomagnetism is more than 400 years old. Geomagnetic storms as we know them were discovered about 210 years ago. There has been keen interest in understanding Sun-Earth connection events, such as solar flares, CMEs, and concomitant magnetic storms in recent times. Magnetic storms are the most important component of space weather effects on Earth. We give an overview of the historical aspects of geomagnetic storms and the progress made during the past two centuries. Super magnetic storms can cause life-threatening power outages and satellite damage, communication failures and navigational problems. The data for such super magnetic storms that occurred in the last 50 years during the space era is sparce. Research on historical geomagnetic storms can help to create a database for intense and super magnetic storms. New knowledge of interplanetary and solar causes of magnetic storms gained from spaceage observations will be used to review the super magnetic storm of September 1-2, 1859. We discuss the occurrence probability of such super magnetic storms, and the maximum possible intensity for the effects of a perfect ICME: extreme super magnetic storm, extreme magnetospheric compression, and extreme magnetospheric electric fields.
On the Solar Origins of Intense Geomagnetic Storms Observed During 611 March 1993
Solar Physics, 1998
Intense geomagnetic storms with D ST index ≤−100 nT were recorded on 9 March and 11 March 1993 associated with solar activity on 6 March and 9-10 March, respectively. In this paper, we discuss the characteristic features of the solar origins of the two events that gave rise to coronal and interplanetary disturbances and as a consequence produced strong geomagnetic activity at the Earth. The source of the activity in one case is attributed to a major 3M7.0 flare that occurred on 6 March 1993 and in the other case, to two large filament disruptions on the disk during 9-10 March, 1993. Both these sources were found to be located near changing or varying low-latitude coronal holes. They were also located close to the heliospheric currents sheets. Distinct X-ray activity was observed for both the events as observed by the Yohkoh SXT telescope. The detailed evolution and a comparison of these events on the basis of Yohkoh soft X-ray observations are presented here.
An overview of the early November 1993 geomagnetic storm
Journal of Geophysical Research, 1998
This paper describes the development of a major space storm during November 2-11, 1993. We discuss the history of the contributing high-speed stream, the powerful combination of solar wind transients and a corotating interaction region which initiated the storm, the high-speed flow which prolonged the storm and the near-Earth manifestations of the storm. The 8-day storm period was unusually long; the result of a high-speed stream (maximum speed 800 km/s) emanating from a distended coronal hole. Storm onset was accompanied by a compression of the entire dayside magnetopause to within geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO). For nearly 12 hours the near-Earth environment was in a state of tumult. A super-dense plasma sheet was observed at GEO, and severe spacecraft charging was reported. The effects of electrons precipitating into the atmosphere penetrated into the stratosphere. Subauroral electron content varied by 100% and F layer heights oscillated by 200 km. Equatorial plasma irregularities extended in plumes to heights of 1400 km. Later, energetic particle fluxes at GEO recovered and rose by more than an order of magnitude. A satellite anomaly was reported during the interval of high energetic electron flux. Model results indicate an upper atmospheric temperature increase of 200øK within 24 hours of storm onset. Joule heating for the first 24 hours of the storm was more than 3 times that for typical active geomagnetic conditions. We estimate that total global ionospheric heating for the full storm interval was-190 PJ, with 30% of that generated within 24 hours of storm onset.
Extreme geomagnetic storms, recent Gleissberg cycles and space era-superintense storms
Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 2011
Extreme historical and space era geomagnetic storms (DH or Dst r À400 nT) are studied in terms of their sunspot and Gleissberg solar cycle distributions. Interplanetary and magnetospheric processes associated with the Carrington storm are summarized and the intense storm of August 4, 1972 is discussed in the context of the possibility of having occurred as an extreme storm instead, if the polarity of the related magnetic cloud would have been opposite. We also discuss about superintense geomagnetic storms (Dst r À250 nT) that occurred in the space era, showing their solar cycle and seasonal distributions and also providing averages for the peak values of their main associated interplanetary parameters. A discussion about the possible occurrence of more Carrington type storms is also addressed.