根据空间气象专家的说法，一场强烈的地磁风暴可能很快就会与地球的大气层发生相互作用，从而使美国大陆南部更远的地方能够看到北极光。
据美国国家海洋和大气管理局称，周日发生的日冕物质抛射(CME)——太阳外层大气中太阳物质和磁场的大规模爆发——预计将在未来24小时内到达地球空间天气预测中心和英国气象局.
强烈(G3)或严重(G4)的地磁暴条件可能会因CME而发生，包括延伸到阿拉巴马州南部和加利福尼亚州北部的极光。
当太阳耀斑与地球大气层中的原子和分子相互作用时，就会出现北极光。
当太阳耀斑与高层大气发生碰撞时，它导致原子发出辉光，在夜空中形成光谱。
极光是否真的可见将取决于日冕物质抛射到达的方式、日冕物质抛射磁场的磁取向以及当地的多云程度。
根据美国国家海洋和大气管理局的说法，在美国观看北极光的最佳时间通常是当地时间晚上10点至凌晨4点，为了获得最佳观看效果，建议尽可能前往最黑暗的地方。
这场风暴也可能影响电力系统、航天器操作、无线电频率和卫星导航。
地磁风暴按1到5的等级划分。据报道，G3风暴可能需要对电力系统进行电压校正，并导致间歇性卫星导航和低频无线电导航问题NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(美国)国家海洋和大气局.
在G4风暴下，电网可能会出现大范围的电压控制问题和其他问题，卫星导航和低频无线电导航问题也会增加。
航天器也可能遇到表面充电和跟踪问题。
太阳磁场在2024年10月达到其11年周期的太阳最大阶段，并继续发出强烈的太阳耀斑和地磁风暴，导致极光显示增加。
据NOAA称，由太阳黑子引起的强烈磁场活动预计将持续到2026年。
NOAA目前正在分析最近CME的数据。
'Severe' geomagnetic storm could make northern lights visible in southern US
A strong geomagnetic storm could soon interact with Earth's atmosphere, bringing the potential for northern lights displays to be seen much further south in the continental U.S., according to space weather experts.
A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) -- a massive burst of solar material and magnetic field from the sun's outer atmosphere -- that occurred on Sunday is expected to reach Earth within the next 24 hours, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration'sSpace Weather Prediction Centerand theU.K.'s Met Office.
Strong (G3) or severe (G4) geomagnetic storm conditions could occur as a result of the CME, including auroras that extend as far south as Alabama and northern California.
Northern light displays occur when a solar flare interacts with the atoms and molecules in Earth's atmosphere.
As the solar flare clashes with the upper atmosphere, it causes the atoms to emit a glow, creating a spectrum of light in the night sky.
Whether the auroras will actually be visible will depend on how the CME arrives, the magnetic orientation of the CME's magnetic field and how cloudy it is locally.
The best time to see the northern lights in the U.S. is generally between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. local time, and traveling to the darkest location possible is recommended for the best viewing, according to NOAA.
The storm could also impact power systems, spacecraft operations, radio frequencies and satellite navigation.
Geomagnetic storms are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. A G3 storm could require voltage corrections on power systems and cause intermittent satellite navigation and low-frequency radio navigation problems, according toNOAA.
Under a G4 storm, possible widespread voltage control problems and other issues on power grids could occur, as could increased satellite navigation and low-frequency radio navigation problems.
Spacecrafts could also experience surface charging and tracking problems.
The sun's magnetic field reached its solar maximum phase of its 11-year cycle in October 2024 and has continued to emit strong solar flares and geomagnetic storms, leading to an increase in aurora displays.
Intense magnetic activity caused by sunspots are expected to last through 2026, according to NOAA.
NOAA is currently analyzing the data for the most recent CME.
