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Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
NASA Image Reveals Wildfire Haze Over US So Big It Can Be Seen From Space
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new satellite image released by NASA has captured dramatic clouds of smoke and dust from the wildfires that have ravaged parts of Canada. The plumes from some blazes were so thick and widespread that they could be seen from a viewpoint in space well beyond that of the moon. The image was taken on May 31 by NASA's EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) on the DSCOVR satellite of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). EPIC is positioned a million miles from the Earth's surface, around four times farther than the orbit of the moon. (For comparison's sake, most polar orbiting satellites observe the Earth fat an altitude of less than 621 miles.) An image of plumes of smoke and dust from Canada's wildfires captured by NASA's EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) on NOAA's DSCOVR satellite acquired this image on May 31, 2025. An image of plumes of smoke and dust from Canada's wildfires captured by NASA's EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) on NOAA's DSCOVR satellite acquired this image on May 31, 2025. NASA Earth Observatory The satellite image captures smoke mostly from the fires in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The plumes extend north across Nunavut, Canada's largest and northernmost territory, and toward the coast of Greenland and south across the United States. A patch of smoke is also visible over the Atlantic Ocean near Europe, while "the hazy air west of Africa is not smoke but dust that has blown westward from the Sahara Desert," NASA notes. More than 180 wildfires were reported to have burned across Canada on Sunday, with air quality and visibility worsening in Canada and in some U.S. states along the border. This marks the first instance of excessive Canadian wildfire smoke descending into the U.S. since 2023 when wildfires worsened air quality to dangerous levels for millions in the northeast. Air quality has degraded in several parts of the U.S., including in Michigan, which issued an advisory last week, warning residents that "conditions maybe unhealthy for sensitive groups and there is a possibility that hourly levels could reach the unhealthy range for a short period of time." On Monday, an advisory was also issued in Minnesota warning residents that the air quality is expected to reach a level that is "hazardous for everyone." The advisory is in effect until Wednesday. The jet stream has sent the plumes further south, with an image captured by NASA's VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-21 satellite showing smoke reaching northern Florida. An image captured by NASA's VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-21 satellite showing smoke reaching northern Florida. An image captured by NASA's VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) on the NOAA-21 satellite showing smoke reaching northern Florida. NASA Earth Observatory Over 25,000 residents have been evacuated across three Canadian provinces as dozens of wildfires remained active Sunday. A state of emergency was declared in Manitoba last week, where by Saturday around 17,000 people had been evacuated, along with 1,300 in the Alberta province. About 8,000 in the Saskatchewan province were relocated, with leaders warning the figure may rise, the Associated Press reported Sunday. The wildfire season in Canada runs from late April to August, but fires can occur at any time of the year. So far this year, 1,586 fires have scorched more than a million hectares of Canada, according to a report on June 1 by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. Last year, the country saw 1,343 fires burn less than half a million hectares by the same date. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about wildfires? Let us know via science@
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Has a geomagnetic storm hit Earth? Massive solar flare reported; aurora likely
Earth was struck by a powerful Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), with the speed of upwards of 1000 km/sec late on Saturday amid fears of a rare geomagnetic storm. Space Weather Live cited the CMS speed to report that the wave has been measured by the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft located at the Sun-Earth L1 point. 'With the current speed, it will take the solar wind 25 minutes to propagate from DSCOVR to Earth,' Space Weather Live added. The CME, a massive eruption of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun's corona, reached Earth at around 1:30 AM ET on June 1, as predicted by NASA and NOAA models. Read More: Geomagnetic storm today: List of states where northern lights will be seen. Latest aurora map here reported solar wind speeds peaking at 1002 km/sec, with the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) strength (Bt) reaching 25 nT and a southward Bz component of -18 nT. These conditions allow solar wind energy to penetrate Earth's magnetosphere and trigger auroras. Auroral activity is expected to be spectacular, with vibrant green, red, and purple displays caused by charged particles colliding with atmospheric gases. Space Weather Live further notes that G4 storms expand the auroral oval to 45–50° geomagnetic latitude, making the northern lights visible in states like Washington, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and parts of New York. A potential G5 escalation could extend visibility to southern states like Alabama, Oregon, and Northern California. Meanwhile, the NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) noted that the storm has sparked aurora alerts for as far south as Alabama and Northern California, while raising concerns about potential disruptions to power grids, satellites, and radio communications. The NOAA further warns of potential disruptions to power grids, with voltage irregularities possible in high-latitude regions. Satellites may experience drag and orientation issues, while GPS and radio signals could face intermittent outages. The CME's origin, an M8.2 flare from AR14100, was identified by Space Weather Live as a full-halo event, indicating an Earth-directed trajectory. The flare, peaking at 0005 UTC on May 31, also raised concerns about R1-R2 radio blackouts.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued for June, May Threaten Infrastructure
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A severe geomagnetic storm watch issued by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is in effect for June 2, with the agency warning that the powerful solar event could disrupt critical infrastructure. Shawn Dahl, a space weather forecaster at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), told Newsweek in an email Saturday: "We are already taking measures to notify FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] for their awareness only at this time" so the agency can make "preparation[s] to deal with and manage geomagnetic induced currents that will likely develop in high voltage transmission lines," potentiallyimpacting the nation's power grid. Newsweek has reached out to FEMA's press team for comment via email on Saturday. Why It Matters Geomagnetic storms are classified by the NOAA on a scale of G1 (minor) to G5 (extreme), with G5 being the most powerful and least common. The fluctuations in our planet's magnetic field during a geomagnetic storm create electric fields on the Earth's surface. When these electric fields interact with conductive materials like rock, soil or water, they induce electrical currents in the ground. These currents, coupled with the electric fields in the ground, can lead to geomagnetically induced currents (GICs), which can travel through power grid systems. These GICs overload transformers and other electrical components, leading to potential damage or large-scale power outages. Aurora borealis, or northern lights, shine in the sky on August 12, 2024, in Mohe, China. Aurora borealis, or northern lights, shine in the sky on August 12, 2024, in Mohe, China. VCG/VCG via AP What To Know On Saturday, NOAA issued a geomagnetic storm watch with a strong (G3) alert for June 1, a severe (G4) alert for June 2 and a moderate (G2) alert for June 4. The warning comes after "a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the Sun" on May 30. It is expected to arrive at Earth on Sunday, June 1. CME is an "eruption of solar material and magnetic fields," according to NOAA. The warning levels are "our best guesses" at the moment, Dahl told Newsweek, adding that "essentially we have to wait until the CME arrives 1 million miles from Earth at the DSCOVR/ACE spacecraft solar wind observatories to know exactly what the CME structure and magnetic strength and orientation actually are." CME arrival at Earth is anticipated and a G4 Watch is now in effect for 2 Jun. CME arrival later on 1 Jun could lead to G3, with G4 potential increased on 2 Jun, and as CME passage weakens, G1-G2 still possible on 3 Jun. Full story at — NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (@NWSSWPC) May 31, 2025 He added that if the magnetic field of the CME is "strong and oriented orientated opposite Earth, we are quite confident in G3-G4 levels being reached," whereas if it is not than the severity becomes less likely. The effects of a geomagnetic storm can be significant, with NOAA's watch stating, "detrimental impacts to some of our critical infrastructure technologies are possible, but mitigation is possible." The infrastructure can be impacted by overload transformers, potentially causing temporary blackouts of the power grid, or interfering with satellites communications and GPS disruptions, among others. In 1989, a powerful CME caused a geomagnetic storm that knocked out the Hydro-Québec power grid in Canada, leaving millions of people without electricity for hours. What People Are Saying Matthew Cappucci, an atmospheric scientist wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday: "A rare 'G4' geomagnetic watch has been hoisted by the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado – indicating they are unusually confident in direct Earth impacts." My Radar Weather posted on X Saturday: "This is a BIG deal! A 'severe' geomagnetic storm is coming – and LOTS of Americans might get to see the aurora borealis!" Dr. Tamitha Skov, a space weather physicist, wrote on X Saturday: "Our Sun finally aims straight for Earth! NASA model predictions show a very fast #solarstorm travelling near 1000 km/s that could hit Earth by midday June 1. A slower storm ahead might cause a slight traffic delay, but G4-levels by June 2 are possible. This means #aurora may be visible deep into mid-latitudes. Considering we expect big flares to continue on Earth's dayside over the next few days, this means both the dayside and nightside radio bands will remain noisy, with periodic disruptions." What Happens Next? Geomagnetic storms can make aurora borealis, or the northern lights, more visible by disrupting the Earth's magnetic fields. NOAA says the aurora may be visible for the northern half of the country, as well as other sites. The SWPC will continue updating information about the solar event throughout the day and leading up to its expected impact.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Sun Wakes Up: Aurora Alert After Biggest Solar Flare Of 2025
After a period of quiet on the surface of the sun, everything changed this week with the strongest solar flare of 2025 and coronal mass ejections that could spark Northern Lights in the coming nights. On May 13 and May 14, NASA spotted X1.2 and X2.7 solar flares, the strongest since March 28 and 2025 so far. Solar flares are unpredictable and intense bursts of energy and electromagnetic radiation from the sun's surface. X-class denotes the most intense flares, while the number provides more information about its strength, according to NASA. There were also two slightly weaker M-class solar flares, rated M5.3 and M4.7, on May 14. Most of the activity is coming from a new sunspot called 4087, which has appeared on the left-hand side of the sun as we see it, according to Solar flares don't cause auroras but shortwave radio blackouts. Traveling at light speed, radiation from a solar flare takes minutes to reach Earth. In the wake of the X-class solar flares, brief blackouts were reported across the world. It's what can follow in the wake of a solar flare that aurora-hunters are interested in. Solar flares often spark what solar physicists call a coronal mass ejection, during which a cloud of super-charged particles leaves the solar surface and travels across the solar system, though at a much slower speed than the radiation from a solar flare. In the wake of May 14's solar flare, a CME was spotted, but it's traveling towards Mars, not Earth. The aurora borealis is notoriously difficult to predict. That's because it's very difficult to know whether a CME is Earth-bound and, if it is, exactly when it will arrive. After all, there are no satellites close to the sun to detect the speed of a CME. That data can only be collected when the CME's effect on the solar wind — the stream of charged particles released from the sun that travels in all directions in the solar system — is measured by NOAA's DSCOVR satellite, which orbits Earth. DSCOVR measures the solar wind's speed and magnetic intensity, which is critical in calculating how it is about to change. Only then can an aurora display be accurately forecast by NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, but there's not much warning — just 30 minutes. The Northern Lights are a result of the solar wind interacting with Earth's magnetic field. The sun has a roughly 11-year cycle during which its magnetic activity crests and subsides. How active it is is measured by counting sunspots on its surface, dark patches that indicate complexity — and often produce solar flares and CMEs. NASA and NOAA's Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel announced the arrival of solar maximum in October 2024, though the exact date won't be obvious for a few years. Some solar maximum periods have a double peak, which we could now be approaching. Even when the number of sunspots begins to decrease, big displays of aurora are possible. 'This period of solar decline is marked by a decreasing number of sunspots, but not necessarily by fewer impacts, even after the solar maximum,' said Lisa Upton, co-chair of NASA and NOAA's Solar Cycle 25 Prediction Panel. In fact, the declining phase of solar maximum can see extreme solar events. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Forbes
03-05-2025
- Climate
- Forbes
Northern Lights Forecast: 11 States May See Aurora Borealis This Weekend
The Northern Lights appear in the sky during a geomagnetic storm on October 10, 2024 in White Lake, ... More North Carolina. (Photo by) The Northern Lights may be visible in the U.S. this week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, which is predicting geomagnetic activity that could result in aurora being glimpsed in as many as 11 U.S. states on Sunday, May 4, 2025. NOAA's aurora viewlines have potential aurora displays that are possible in northern U.S. states and Canada. A total of 11 U.S. states have a chance of seeing the aurora on the northern horizon on Sunday night, with Alaska and those on the U.S.-Canada border having the highest chance. The aurora viewline for Sunday, May 4, 2025. Parts of U.S. states that could potentially see aurora, according to NOAA, include Alaska, Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, northern Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine. Areas far from light pollution are likely to get the best views. Exactly when and where aurora becomes visible this week will be down not to predictions but data coming in from NASA's DSCOVR and ACE satellites. Orbiting the sun from around a million miles from Earth, they give a roughly 30-minute warning of aurora displays after measuring the solar wind's speed and magnetic intensity. Check NOAA's 30-minute forecast or use the Glendale App for up-to-the-minute forecasts. If your smartphone has a 'Night Mode' feature, that should be good enough to get a more than impressive souvenir shot of the aurora. It likely means a long exposure of between five and 10 seconds, which will look much better if you do three things: The Northern Lights are caused by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field. Although the magnetic field deflects much of it, some charged particles accelerate along the magnetic field lines toward the polar regions, where they collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, exciting them and causing them to release energy as light. The possibility of displays of the aurora borealis at more southerly latitudes comes from a spike in solar activity, which is currently at a 23-year high due to the current solar maximum period. Geomagnetic storms and aurora are expected to continue through 2025 and 2026. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
