Geomagnetic storms

A geomagnetic storm is a phenomenon that occurs on Earth when there are disturbances in the planet's magnetic field.

These disturbances are caused by the arrival of charged particles, mainly electrons and protons, from the solar wind.

The solar wind is a steady stream of charged particles emitted by the Sun.

When these charged particles from the solar wind interact with the Earth's magnetic field, they can generate a number of effects.

One of the most notable effects is the appearance of beautiful aurora borealis in polar regions, such as the Arctic and Antarctic, these bright and colourful lights in the sky are the result of the interaction between solar wind particles and gases in the Earth's atmosphere.

However, geomagnetic storms can also have more worrying effects.

When the intensity of charged particles is high, they can cause disturbances in radio communications, satellite navigation systems (such as GPS) and power grids, because the charged particles can generate additional electrical currents in cables and equipment, which can damage or interfere with their normal operation.

In addition, geomagnetic storms can affect satellites in orbit around the Earth, altering their trajectory and causing failures in their electronic systems.

It has also been observed that geomagnetic storms can have effects on human health, especially in people sensitive to magnetic changes, causing symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and sleep disturbances.

The intensity of a geomagnetic storm is measured using the Kp index, which varies from 0 to 9.

Low intensity storms (Kp 1-3) are generally benign and only cause brighter aurora borealis in polar regions, however, when the intensity is high (Kp 7-9), the effects can be more significant and affect communications and technological systems.

Geomagnetic storms can occur with some regularity, especially during periods of high solar activity, however, their frequency and intensity can vary, and depend on several factors, such as the solar cycle and specific solar events.