On Saturday, October 11, small disturbances were observed in the geomagnetic field on Earth. This was reported at the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Institute of Space Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI RAS).
According to experts, these are the first signs of the impact of the coronal hole on the Sun, whose influence will be fully manifest on October 12.
Scientists note that a mild “storm” is currently being recorded but no magnetic storm yet. According to their estimates, the main stream of solar wind from the coronal hole will reach Earth no earlier than Monday. However, the planet was affected by a dense solar wind front moving at the boundary of the hole.
The laboratory explains that the solar wind moves faster than the speed of sound and “scrapes” in front of it a dense layer of gas, arriving 1–2 days ahead of the main plasma flow.
According to experts, the current disturbances will cease within the next few hours and a general increase in activity is expected after the solar wind speed increases. Scientists added that no severe magnetic storms are expected in the coming days.
