Major Solar Storm Monday Caused Top Level Geomagnetic Storm

SOLAR SCIENCE

Forecasters said the event measured at the highest level on the NOAA Space Weather Scales.

Boulder CO (UPI) May 16, 2005
A major electromagnetic storm from a solar flare reached Earth Monday, causing power distribution, cell phone outages and other problems.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters in Boulder, Colo., observed the eruption of the geomagnetic storm Sunday and classified it as an extreme event.

Forecasters said the event measured at the highest level on the NOAA Space Weather Scales.

"This event registered a 9 on the K-Index, which measures the maximum deviation of the Earth's magnetic field in a given three-hour period," said Gayle Nelson, lead operations specialist at NOAA Space Environment Center.

"The scale ranges from 0 to 9, with 9 being the highest. This was a significant event."

Such a geomagnetic storm might result in widespread power system voltage control problems on Earth, while some electrical grid systems might experience a complete collapse or blackouts, according to NOAA.

In addition, transformers could be damaged, while satellite and spacecraft operations might experience extensive surface charging.

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SOLAR SCIENCE

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