RUSENG

January 25, 2019, 10:30 UTC

A mild magnetic storm has occurred on Earth — second this year

Magnetic storm, 25 January 2019.

A weak magnetic storm was recorded today, 25 January 2019, at about one o’clock in the morning, Moscow time. The storm was preceded by an almost day of an unstable geomagnetic situation, which was observed throughout the previous day, 24 January. During these days, the index of geomagnetic activity was several times reaching a disturbing level. The maximum of disturbances occurred exactly in the period when the storm was recorded in Moscow, between the midnight and two o'clock.

The observed event was classified as the minimum level and lasted only for about 1.5 hours, after which the Earth's magnetic field restored to its calm state. At the moment, the geomagnetic activity index is in the green zone and repetition of the disturbances are not expected. The cause of the storm was a slight increase in speed of the solar wind blowing around the Earth. With an average wind speed of 350-400 km/s, it is at the moment is about 500 km/s.

The occurred storm became the second in this year. Earlier, a storm of the same level was recorded on 5 January, which had slightly gloomed down the festive feelings of the scientists, who predicted a calm atmosphere for the entire festive period. However, with the exception of this short 5-hour interval, the rest of the New Year ten-days holidays’ period had passed in full accordance with the forecast in green zone. The next surge in geomagnetic activity is possible in a week time, in February the 1st and 2nd. Further, until the second half of the February, the geomagnetic situation is predicted to be stable.