Photo: NASA
Its source is a massive coronal hole on the Sun.
The Sun is at the peak of its activity, frequently showing sunspots and solar flares. Coronal mass ejections accompanying these events can trigger geomagnetic storms on Earth.
According to SpaceWeather, on October 17, a giant equatorial hole appeared on the Sun. It is sending a stream of solar wind toward Earth, which may cause a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm when it reaches the planet on October 21.
Geomagnetic storms are disturbances of Earth’s magnetic field of varying intensity and duration. They are caused by streams of charged particles emitted by the Sun and can disrupt communications as well as affect the health of elderly and weather-sensitive individuals, potentially causing headaches, dizziness, nausea, joint pain, fatigue, and insomnia.
