IIA Experts Uncover Cause of May 2024 Solar Eruptions

fast Summary

• Event: Astronomers at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have decoded reasons behind the Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) that caused rare northern lights in Ladakh in May 2024.
• Meaning: The findings contribute to advancements in space weather forecasting, especially in predicting impacts on Earth’s magnetosphere from complex CME events.
• Details of CMEs:

– CMEs are massive ejections of magnetised plasma from the Sun’s corona that can cause geomagnetic storms impacting satellites, interaction networks, and power grids.
– The rare geomagnetic storm on May 10, 2024, resulted from six successive CMEs linked to solar flares and filament eruptions from a complex active region on the Sun.

• Research Methodology:

– Using NASA and ESA data alongside observations from IIA’s Indian Astronomical Observatory at Hanle in Ladakh.
– Developed a novel model tracking how multiple interacting CMEs evolved thermodynamically while traveling toward Earth.

• Key Findings:

– CME interactions lead to notable thermal changes within their structure during travel through the heliosphere.
– Electrons were found releasing heat upon reaching Earth; ions showed mixed behavior with heating as a dominant trend.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The decoding of Coronal Mass Ejection dynamics by IIA represents an important milestone for India’s contribution to global astrophysics research and space weather prediction. By improving our understanding of CME evolution across vast distances, this research augments efforts to mitigate risks posed by geomagnetic storms affecting critical infrastructure such as satellites and communication systems.

Moreover, hosting cutting-edge work at facilities like Hanle Observatories underscores India’s increasing capability within frontier science domains.While more observational data is needed globally for extensive modeling accuracy near both solar activity zones and Earth’s proximity, this pioneering study enhances preparedness against future solar phenomena-a crucial step toward global scientific resilience amid expanding reliance on interconnected technologies.

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