A composite image made by GOES-16 extreme ultraviolet (EUV) telescope, the Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI).Observations of solar EUV emission aids in the early detection of solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and other phenomena that impact the geospace environment. [Courtesy: NOAA]
Key Takeaways:
A Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch is in effect this weekend due to coronal mass ejections from the sun, making it an "unusual and potentially historic event."
Pilots are warned by the FAA about potential disruptions to GPS navigation and high-frequency radio transmissions, with satellite navigation possibly degraded or inoperable for hours.
The geomagnetic storm could also disrupt broader communications, the electric power grid, and satellite operations.
An additional effect of the storm is the potential for visible aurora displays much farther south than usual, possibly reaching Alabama.
Pilots who rely on GPS, also known as “the magenta line,” for navigation may have a difficult time getting around this weekend as geomagnetic disruptions in the Earth’s atmosphere may create “satellite disruptions” that could impact GPS navigation among other things.
The prediction prompted a warning for pilots from the FAA.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
