This week, unusual geomagnetic activity is expected. According to experts' forecasts, the Earth's magnetosphere will be in an excited state almost every day, and four days out of seven will be marked by G1 level magnetic storms. These days are November 20, 22, 24, and 25.
On a five-point scale of magnetic storms, the G1 level is considered the lowest. However, it is concerning that they will not cease throughout the week. Such a phenomenon is extremely rare.
When a storm rages for just one day, that is one thing, but when it lasts for several consecutive days, that is entirely different. What could the consequences be? Perhaps this creates a cumulative effect that negatively impacts the health of weather-sensitive individuals, and by the end of this period, they will feel exhausted?
This was discussed by journalists with Sergey Bogachyov, a leading researcher at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
— What is the reason for the upcoming prolonged series of magnetic storms? Is it related to constant solar flares?
— No, the high likelihood of storms this week is not due to flares but to solar wind. The Earth is entering a zone of fast wind and will remain in it for almost the entire week. This should not cause severe storms, but the magnetic field will become sufficiently unstable for an extended period, likely until the weekend.
When flares occur on the Sun, geomagnetic storms usually have a much shorter duration and last no more than one or two days, although their intensity is significantly higher. In this case, it is not about a continuous storm lasting a week. A prolonged unstable period is forecasted, with individual "red" sections, interspersed with extended periods of calm.
— Is this an unusual situation? Or perhaps even an abnormal one?
— The Earth will go through the longest series of geomagnetic disturbances this year. Whether this event will be considered abnormal will only become clear at the end of the week. Currently, an unusually prolonged but still weak series of storms is predicted.
Nevertheless, the solar wind flow appears to be the most powerful this year. It is possible that we will encounter unexpected events in terms of storm intensity.
— What would you recommend to weather-sensitive individuals during these days? Can disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field have a cumulative effect on human health?
— The impact of alternating magnetic fields occurs through currents. Fortunately, electrical phenomena do not have a cumulative effect, unlike radiation.
However, simple recommendations can be made: rest, get enough sleep, and drink more water. It is important to remember that many people, especially in large cities, already live in conditions of quite strong electromagnetic backgrounds. It is unlikely that relatively weak disturbances, even if unusually prolonged, will significantly change the situation. The occurrence of storms reaching high indices according to the current forecast is also unlikely.
