urn:oid:2.49.0.1.212.0.2011.2.2.8.37.9 geomag@usgs.gov 2011-02-02T08:37:09-00:00 Test Alert Public en Met Geomagnetic Storm Expected Moderate Likely USGS Geomagnetism Program Geomagnetic Storm Alert The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is bracing for the likely arrival of a major geomagnetic storm and possible auroral activity over the next few days. Space Weather sources at NOAA/NASA indicate that a series of major solar flares and a subsequent full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME) was observed at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on June 6. The location of the flare and direction of the CME make it a near certainty that the ejected material will reach the Earth within the next 24 hours. Thus, it should produce geomagnetic activity and a resulting aurora that may be visible at mid-latitudes, and could continue for several days. Geomagnetic storms occur when plasma, a hot ionized gas of charged particles produced by eruptions on the Sun, impacts the Earth's magnetic field causing it to fluctuate wildly. These fluctuations cause currents to flow in conductors on the ground and in space. Solar eruptions can produce billions of tons of plasma traveling at speeds in excess of a million miles an hour. While it is geomagnetic storms that give rise to the beautiful Northern lights, they can also pose a serious threat for commercial and military satellite operators, power companies, astronauts, and they can even shorten the life of oil pipelines in Alaska by increasing pipeline corrosion. http://www.usgs.gov/public/press/public_affairs/press_releases/pr1241m.html Jill Caldwell 1-303-273-8486 Image file image/jpeg http://geomag.usgs.gov/realtime.html Plots of the data from USGS observatories can be seen on-line at: http://geomag.usgs.gov/frames/plots.htm 45,-179.99 45,179.99 89.99,179.99 89.99,-179.99 45,-179.99 45,-179.99 45,179.99 89.99,179.99 89.99,-179.99 45,-179.99