Image from The Nation Thailand/ANN
BANGKOK: Thailand is currently bracing for a severe geomagnetic storm, the likes of which haven’t been recorded in recent history, according to local media reports.
The storm, reaching a level 7 intensity, is expected to present two significant effects: mesmerising auroras for high-latitude regions and potential disruptions to satellite communications.
This forecast emerged following recent solar flare activities, which have been closely monitored by the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA). Since the evening of May 10, approximately at 4pm Thai time, officials have been on high alert, reported online portal Thaiger.
The planet is in the grip of one of the most severe geomagnetic storms ever recorded, akin to the historic Carrington event of 1859 and the more recent Halloween solar storm of 2003. Originating from a massive sunspot region AR 3664, the current solar activity has unleashed several coronal mass ejections (CMEs) into space, causing continuous solar winds to affect Earth.
According to the latest updates from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the solar wind velocity has reached an astonishing 835 kilometres per second, with a peak magnetic field (Bt) of 74 nanoteslas and a Bz component of -45 nanoteslas, indicating a direct impact on Earth.
The Kp index, a measure of geomagnetic activity, hit the top of the scale at Kp index = 9, or level G5 since Friday (May 10).
Sittiporn Kanjanasindhu, Director of the Space Technology Research Centre at GISTDA, shared that the local k index for Thailand indicated a level 7 or G3 strength last night, pointing to a strong level of geomagnetic activity.
Electrical systems
This could result in two primary impacts: an increased chance of witnessing the Northern Lights in high-latitude countries and potential disruptions to satellite operations, including navigation and communication satellites. Additionally, high-frequency radio signals in the HF/VHF/UHF networks and electrical systems might be temporarily affected.
GISTDA, equipped with the space weather forecast system JASPER, collaborates internationally to monitor these events. The data utilised comes from magnetometers, a joint project between GISTDA, Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), and Prince of Songkla University, located near the geomagnetic equator in Southern Thailand’s Science Park.
GISTDA and its partners are committed to continuous monitoring and will provide updates as the situation evolves, reported Bangkok Post.
Residents and authorities alike are urged to stay informed and prepared as the geomagnetic storm unfolds, with the potential for breathtaking auroras and the need for contingency plans in the face of satellite and communication challenges.
Meanwhile, The Nation Thailand reported that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a US-based agency charged with forecasting weather, warns that at least three severe geomagnetic storms, expected to be the worst since 2005, will hit Earth this weekend.
The Thai Astronomical Society provided additional information that during the solar peak, in addition to the solar wind being more intense, it is also more volatile than at any other time.
Changes in the intensity of electric charge around the Earth produce variations in the Earth's magnetic field. This can cause electrical conduction on any long-distance electrical conductor on the Earth's surface, such as an oil pipeline or a high-voltage electrical line, among other things.
This can cause the transformer to explode and the power transmission system to malfunction.
There have been many major power outages in the past, such as in 1989 in Quebec and New Jersey. It is also thought to be the result of a "solar storm".
Another system that may have problems is a communication system that uses the reflection of signals with the ionosphere. This is because the ionosphere can become turbulent when hit by an explosion on the sun.
