On Palm Sunday, March 24, a strong geomagnetic storm hit Earth due to a coronal mass ejection from the Sun. The Finnish Meteorological Institute reported that the disturbances were surprisingly intense, despite advance predictions of the eruption. Despite warnings of the impending storm, it exceeded expectations.
The upper atmosphere also experienced significant changes in electron density in the ionosphere, which affected radio signal flows. According to a press release from the Institute, two similar geomagnetic storms occurred last year and that the Sun’s activity fluctuation is nearing its maximum, leading to more frequent storms in the coming years. The head of the Space Weather Research group, Tiera Laitinen, emphasized that this recent storm was just a preview of what may occur in the future.
Geomagnetic storms can be measured by various metrics, with the Kp index being a crucial indicator of disturbances. The storm on March 24 reached a severe level with a Kp index of 8+, close to the maximum value of 9. Overall, the Institute highlighted the importance of understanding and monitoring space weather phenomena for predicting and mitigating their impacts in the future.
