A strong geomagnetic storm on Tuesday night caused the aurora borealis to be observed in several parts of Germany. According to the German Meteorological Service, it was seen as far as the Alps in the south of the country. TASR writes about it according to the DPA agency.
- A strong geomagnetic storm caused aurora sightings in Germany.
- The glow could only be seen in the south of the country, including the Alps.
- The storm was classified as the second strongest G4 category according to NOAA.
- Such a storm can threaten satellites and GPS systems.
- The aurora borealis was also observed in Slovakia, Canada and the USA.
The aurora on Earth occurs when energetically charged particles from the Sun reach Earth in the form of the solar wind and collide with gas molecules in the upper layers of the atmosphere. It happens at an altitude of 80 to 250 kilometers above the earth’s surface, most often in the vicinity of the northern and southern polar circles. With intense solar activity, it will also spread to middle latitudes.
The observation of the glow in Germany was made possible by a strong geomagnetic storm, which the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration classified as the second strongest G4 category. A storm of this magnitude can affect the functionality of satellites and disrupt GPS systems.
According to the Spaceweather astronomy platform, the wind from the Sun crossed the distance between the Sun and the Earth in only about 25 hours. Under normal circumstances, it covers this distance in three to four days. The aurora borealis was also visible from Switzerland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Canada and the northern part of the United States on Tuesday night.
