SA space agency issues warning for aviation and navigation systems

The South African National Space Agency (Sansa) confirmed last night that a severe geomagnetic storm has reached earth, escalating to G4 level, which is classified as severe storm conditions, reports The Witness.

The space agency said that the storm is expected to continue throughout today, with G1 to G3 conditions likely and the possibility of further G4 levels as solar activity intensifies.

Sansa explained that a coronal mass ejection (CME) is a massive cloud of hydrogen ions that is ejected from the surface of the sun when stored energy is suddenly released.

“The CME produces a cloud of high-energy particles travelling at supersonic speeds (500 – 2 000km per second). When a CME is ejected towards earth, it reaches us within a day or two. The impact of the CME on the earth causes a disturbance to the earth’s magnetic field,” said Sansa.

The CME was triggered by a prolonged burst of light from the sun, known as a solar flare, which occurred on Sunday.

Solar flares are ranked in five categories: A, B, C, M and X, with A-class being the weakest and X-class the most powerful.

The sun erupted with a severe X1.9 solar flare on Sunday evening.

Agency reassures public

However, Sansa said the African region was not affected by high-frequency radio blackouts because the flare occurred at night, when its impact is limited.

Sansa warned that the CME is expected to affect earth today.

“This impact will interact with the earth’s magnetic field and cause a geomagnetic storm. The geomagnetic storm could reach G4 or severe storm conditions,” said Sansa.

It expects G1 to G2 storms, with G3 storms likely and the possibility of G4 storms throughout the day.

Despite the severity rating, Sansa reassured the public that geomagnetic storms are not dangerous in the same way as weather-related storms.

“Geomagnetic storms largely go unnoticed by people because their effects are felt mainly through technological systems,” added Sansa.

Most at risk

It added that navigation, communication and electricity networks are the most at risk.

“Industries such as aviation and drone operations can be affected by the impact on navigation systems and should take note of the K-Index, a standardised, global measure (0–9) of geomagnetic activity, showing how much the earth’s magnetic field is disturbed.”

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