10/28/03 solar flare = 10/29/03 electronic disruption

New, major story storm appears headed for Earth
By Dan Vergano, USA TODAY
Another major solar storm appears headed for Earth, following the unexpectedly early arrival of a geomagnetic blast Wednesday.



Northern lights above Soldotna, Alaska early Wednesday.
AP

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) scientists report a major solar flare hit their satellites late Wednesday afternoon, signifying the new storm's likely arrival today.

"We're getting our share of storms. The fact that we have two large ones coming right at us so close together is really unusual," says CfA solar astrophysicist John Kohl.

There were few reports of damage from Wednesday's storm.

Utilities are closely watching power grids and for signs of voltage-control problems, and minor electric surges are reported well under control.

Such strong geomagnetic storms should cause colorful auroras in the night sky visible as far south as Texas and Florida through Friday. El Paso reported an aurora Wednesday morning.

Space weather forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Center in Boulder, Colo., said the cloud of highly charged solar particles from the sun hit Earth's magnetic field at 1 a.m. ET, Wednesday, hours ahead of schedule.

In Tokyo, Japan's space agency announced the Kodama communications satellite malfunctioned after being effected affected by the flare. The agency said it was only temporarily shut down and would be reactivated after the storm subsided, but there was no major communication disruption occurred.

Federal researchers have again turned off instruments and taken other precautions with science satellites.

Space station astronauts will continue to periodically seek shelter.

And by chance, a previously-scheduled House Science Committee hearing on proposed cuts to NOAA's space monitoring budget meets Thursday.

Solar storms come in three parts: a fast-moving x-ray flare, a burst of slower radiation and finally the arrival of a giant superheated cloud of gas.

Major blasts trigger geomagnetic storms that threaten satellites and power grids.

The new storm will add to the effects of Wednesday's blast, rated a G5, the highest intensity space weather.

The storm's strength fell after the initial blast, then rose, as its magnetic field twisted out of line with Earth's magnetic field, continuing to threaten satellites and power systems, says NOAA. In 1989, a G5 storm knocked out power in Canada's Quebec province.

"It is extremely rare to get this level of geomagnetic storming," said NOAA space weather forecaster Larry Combs in Boulder. "This is one of the strongest storms that we have received during this cycle."

He also noted that there had been radio communications disruptions in recent days for airlines, especially those on North Atlantic and polar routes. A storm of lesser strength occurred last week.

The National Science Foundation reported that the New York Air National Guard LC-130 transports flying between the McMurdo Station and South Pole have encountered problems with their high-frequency radios, but are staying in communication with McMurdo and the Pole Station by using Iridium mobile phones in the cockpits.