In recent days, turbulent conditions have been observed on the sun. A large group of sunspots in the suns northern hemisphere caused three consecutive eruptions on November 9, 10, and 11 in the morning (Dutch time). The KNMI weather room monitors these solar eruptions and their effects on Earth to help the Dutch government and vital sectors prepare for potential space weather impacts on technological systems. Due to the third eruption, the northern lights may be visible in the Netherlands Wednesday evening and overnight.
Rare Strong Increase in Cosmic Radiation
During the third major eruption on Tuesday morning, an American weather satellite almost simultaneously detected a rare strong increase in cosmic radiation. This phenomenon consists of particles that are hurled through space by the sun at very high speeds and reach the Earths atmosphere. In this case, it occurred just 20 minutes after the solar eruption. The atmosphere protects us well against this harmful radiation, but if such solar activity becomes more extreme and frequent, it is something for, for example, airlines to take into account.
Extra Weather Balloons from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom
On Tuesday, weather balloons were launched again, this time to make new measurements of this exceptional situation
At KNMI, we collaborate with colleagues in the United Kingdom to collect better measurements via our weather balloons. This helps improve computer models. Last month, three weather balloons were launched simultaneously in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom to measure radiation doses at high altitude. On Tuesday, November 11, the instruments were again sent up from both countries to take new measurements of this exceptional situation.
Geomagnetic Storms and Northern Lights from the Netherlands
There is another important form of space weather. At each of the three major eruptions this week, a coronal mass ejection was launched. This cloud of charged particles in the solar wind travels toward Earth in about two days, causing disturbances in our magnetic field at a large distance from the Earths surface. This creates fast streams with already present charged particles that, when colliding with the atmosphere, cause the northern lights. In extreme cases, users of satellite navigation systems and electricity grid operators can experience problems from such a geomagnetic storm.
KNMI monitors these events 24 hours a day from the weather room in De Bilt
The first two eruptions of this week arrived overnight from Tuesday, November 11 to Wednesday, November 12, and have already caused spectacular auroras worldwide. These have also been photographed from the Netherlands. The third eruption on Tuesday morning, which is expected to arrive at Earth with even higher speed on Wednesday afternoon or evening, will likely hit Earth with a flank but could cause this light show again in the evening and at night. Such forecasts are always very uncertain, both in timing and intensity. KNMI monitors these events 24 hours a day from the weather room in De Bilt, in cooperation with the UK Met Office and other international partners.
