Strongest geomagnetic storm since January hits Earth

Earth experienced its strongest geomagnetic storm since January after a solar eruption triggered 24 hours of heightened magnetic activity, while another, more powerful solar flare erupted later but is not expected to affect the planet, according to the National Center for Space Weather.

The center, operated by the China Meteorological Administration, said in a statement on Sunday that the geomagnetic storm began at 8 am Beijing time on Saturday and persisted for 24 consecutive hours, marking the second strong geomagnetic disturbance this year after an event on Jan 20.

The storm was triggered by solar activity that began on July 1, when Active Region 14479 on the sun unleashed an X1.1-class solar flare accompanied by a coronal mass ejection, or CME. The rapid release of energy and charged particles created the conditions that led to the geomagnetic storm, the center said.

Based on observations of solar wind speed, plasma temperature and density, as well as changes in the interplanetary magnetic field, the center said the effects of the CME are gradually subsiding.

However, the sun produced another major eruption at 4:41 am Beijing time on Sunday, generating a stronger X1.3-class solar flare.

The flare caused significant degradation of high-frequency radio communications across North America, with frequencies below 20 megahertz temporarily becoming unusable.

China was largely unaffected because most of the country was on Earth's night side when the eruption occurred, the center said.

Unlike the July 1 event, the latest flare originated near the sun's eastern limb. Although it was also accompanied by a coronal mass ejection, the ejected material is not expected to be directed toward Earth, according to the center.

Meanwhile, the geomagnetic storm produced spectacular auroras visible in some regions. Photographer Roger Hill captured a rare image showing lightning from a thunderstorm beneath glowing auroral curtains, illustrating the striking contrast between space weather and electrical activity in Earth's atmosphere.