[Regnum] Russians may experience a weak magnetic storm on March 13–14.Astrophysicist and Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Sergey Yazev told Regnum News Agency on March 9.
According to the expert, magnetic storms are usually caused by large solar flares. Coronal holes can also cause disturbances in space. One of these is expected to enter the line of influence on our planet in a few days.
"There's a moderately large coronal hole on the Sun right now. It should move into the solar central meridian, meaning it'll be directly opposite us, in about three to four days. We can expect a slight increase in magnetic intensity if the solar wind jet hits Earth, which it certainly will. However, coronal holes never cause strong magnetic storms. There will either be slightly increased disturbances, or, in the worst case, a weak magnetic storm," Yazev explained.
Regarding powerful flares, the expert estimates that the Sun is currently experiencing a complete lull. There are currently almost no sunspot groups on the star where large plasma ejections could occur.
"The solar situation is unusually calm right now—there are very few sunspots, and all solar activity indices are low. I see no reason at all to believe that anything could change dramatically in the coming week," the scientist added.
Yazev emphasized that a magnetic storm can only be predicted with certainty once an event capable of triggering it has occurred on the Sun. Making such forecasts several weeks in advance is virtually impossible.
"Forecasts of strong, I emphasize, strong magnetic storms over the next two weeks can be considered completely unfounded. I don't know who's making these forecasts. I suspect they're not experts," Yazev concluded.