Geomagnetic storms likely after solar flare, no threat to health

A solar flare erupted on May 31, potentially triggering geomagnetic storms as well as striking auroras for northern residents over the following three days while posing no threat to human health, according to China's National Space Weather Monitoring and Early Warning Center. 

The flare erupted from solar active region 14100 at about 7:45 a.m. on the day. The soft X-ray flux rose rapidly, peaking at 8:05 a.m. with an intensity of M8.1 – a moderate-level solar flare.

The flare was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection, during which high-speed plasma was expelled from the sun's atmosphere, forming a near-spherical "shock wave" that propagated through the solar system. As the flare originated from a region of the sun directly facing Earth, the planet is likely to be affected, raising the probability of geomagnetic storms.

Geomagnetic storms are intense global disturbances of the Earth's magnetic field caused by solar activity. These events can disrupt satellite communications, spacecraft operations and increase positioning errors in satellite navigation systems. For the general public, the most visible effect is the appearance of vivid auroras in high-latitude regions. Geomagnetic storms have no adverse impact on human health. However, pigeon racing enthusiasts are advised to avoid releasing pigeons during such periods to prevent unnecessary losses.

Experts note that solar activity follows an approximately 11-year cycle. The current cycle – Solar Cycle 25 – began in 2019 and is now entering its peak phase. The years 2024 and 2025 are the periods of heightened solar activity, during which more solar flares and geomagnetic storms may occur. These are considered normal natural phenomena.