Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued for August 27-28
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The US space weather agency, NOAA, has issued a geomagnetic storm watch for August 27-28. The warning follows a powerful solar flare that erupted from the sun.
A solar flare is a sudden, intense burst of light and energy released from the sun's surface. This particular flare released coronal mass ejections, known as CMEs, into space.
A CME is a huge cloud of solar material and magnetic energy thrown out from the sun. These CMEs are now heading toward Earth and are expected to arrive around August 27-28.
When CMEs reach Earth, they can interact with our planet's magnetic field, causing what scientists call a geomagnetic storm. These storms can affect satellites, radio signals, and power grids, but they also create a beautiful natural effect.
That effect is the aurora, commonly known as the northern lights. During strong geomagnetic storms, the aurora can become visible much further from the poles than usual.
Because of this incoming storm, NOAA says there is a good chance of a dazzling northern lights display, possibly as soon as Friday, August 27.
People in northern regions, and possibly further south than normal, may be able to see the colorful lights in the night sky. Clear, dark skies away from city lights usually offer the best viewing chances.
Scientists continue to monitor the sun and the approaching CMEs closely. The exact strength of the storm, and how far south the aurora might be visible, will become clearer as the CMEs get closer to Earth.
Vocabulary10 words
- NOAA
- the US agency that tracks weather and space weather
- solar flare
- a sudden bright burst of energy from the sun
- coronal mass ejection
- a huge cloud of solar gas sent into space
- magnetic field
- the invisible force that surrounds and protects Earth
- geomagnetic storm
- a disturbance in Earth's magnetic field from the sun
- aurora
- colorful lights seen in the sky near the poles
- erupted
- burst out suddenly and with force
- monitor
- to watch something carefully over time
- display
- something shown for people to see
- dazzling
- extremely bright and impressive
Quiz
Answer key
1. A powerful solar flare and CMEs 2. The northern lights (aurora) 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The US space weather agency, NOAA, has issued a geomagnetic storm _____ for August 27-28.
The warning follows a powerful solar _____ that erupted from the sun.
This particular flare released coronal mass _____, known as CMEs, into space.
These CMEs are now heading toward Earth and are expected to _____ around August 27-28.
When CMEs reach Earth, they can interact with our planet's magnetic _____, causing a geomagnetic storm.
That effect is the _____, commonly known as the northern lights.
NOAA says there is a good chance of a _____ northern lights display, possibly as soon as Friday.
Scientists continue to _____ the sun and the approaching CMEs closely.
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