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Join UsThe space agency informed that both Aditya-L1 and Chandrayaan-2 have made observations and signatures have been analysed
A powerful solar storm struck the Earth in early May this year, triggered by the highly active solar region AR13664, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reported on Tuesday (May 14). The space agency informed that both Aditya-L1 and Chandrayaan-2 have made observations and signatures have been analysed.
“The ASPEX payload on-board Aditya-L1 is showing high speed solar wind, high temperature solar wind plasma and energetic ion flux till now,” the space agency said.
Most intense geomagnetic storm since 2003
This region released a series of X-class flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) aimed at Earth. According to ISRO, the resulting geomagnetic storm was the most intense since 2003, causing significant disruptions to communication and GPS systems
“This is the biggest geomagnetic storm since 2003 in terms of its strength, as the flaring region on the Sun was as big as the historically important Carrington event that took place in 1859,” ISRO said in a statement.
A series of X-class flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) aimed at Earth were released from this location. As per ISRO, the subsequent geomagnetic storm, which interfered with GPS and communication systems, was the strongest since 2003. The Earth has been struck by several CMEs and X-class flares in recent days, ISRO said.
“This (CME) had severe effects over high latitudes where trans-polar flights are already being reported to be diverted. More events are expected in the next few days,” ISRO added.
The space agency further stated that because the storm’s primary event occurred in the early hours of May 11, when the ionosphere was still developing, the Indian sector was less severely damaged. Furthermore, widespread disruptions have not been observed in India due to its lower latitude.
Impact on ionosphere
According to ISRO, the ionosphere over the Pacific and American sectors was extremely tumultuous. The Earth’s upper atmosphere includes the ionosphere, which is located between 80 and about 600 km. Here, intense ultraviolet and x-ray solar radiation ionises atoms and molecules, resulting in the formation of an electron layer. Because it reflects and alters radio waves used for communication and navigation, the ionosphere is significant.
The primary impact of this event occurred during the early morning hours of May 11 in India, when the ionosphere was still developing, ISRO said. ISRO said it has mobilised all its observation platforms and systems to record the
signatures of this event.
