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What are coronal mass ejections?
A coronal mass ejection is an enormous eruption of plasma (electrically charged gas) from the Sun's outer atmosphere, also known as the corona. A single CME can propel billions of tons of plasma into space at incredible speeds. They can travel at different speed, the fastest traveling at millions of kilometers per hour. CMEs directed at Earth can reach our planet in a time span rangin from 15 hours to several days, depending on their speed. However, CMEs carry intense magnetic fields in addition to the charged particle. CMEs, with the right conditions, are able to trigger geomagnetic storms when they reach Earth.Â
What is a geomagnetic storm?
A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance that occurs when there is an exchange from the Sun's energy, usually transmitted through CMEs, into the space environment surrounding Earth. It can cause major blackouts, power outages, but also beautiful auroras. However, they don't harm anyone on Earth because our planet's magnetic field and atmosphere protect us.
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