Strong geomagnetic storm hits China ‘but with minimal impact on human health’

A geomagnetic storm illuminated  the night sky in China, producing dazzling auroras in several regions. Affected by the disappearance of a solar filament on Sunday, a geomagnetic storm occurred from Wednesday with the maximum intensity reaching a Kp index (a global geomagnetic activity index) of 8 on Thursday early morning, classifying it as a severe geomagnetic storm, according to China News.

The storm remained active as of Thursday. The National Center for Space Weather (NCSW) stated that due to ongoing coronal mass ejection activity, minor geomagnetic storms could persist through Thursday, while conditions are expected to stabilize to quiet or slightly disturbed levels from Friday to Saturday.  

The current geomagnetic storm, caused by a solar filament disappearance event on Sunday, occurred between 5 pm Beijing Time on Wednesday and 8 am on Thursday. The storm peaked in intensity from 2 am to 5 am on Thursday, reaching a maximum Kp index of 8.  

Auroras accompanied the geomagnetic storm, lighting up the skies across China. Photographers captured spectacular displays, according to China News. 

Cai Zheng, an associate professor in the Department of Astronomy at Tsinghua University, was quoted by China News on Thursday that geomagnetic storms are caused by interactions between high-energy solar particles and Earth's magnetic field. 

While they may affect electronic communication systems, they pose little direct health risks to the general public, Cai said. "Geomagnetic storms also pose risks to satellites and aviation," Cai added. 

He noted that research into their direct health effects of geomagnetic storms is still ongoing, though some theories suggest strong geomagnetic activity could influence animal migration and navigation, as reported by China News.

"A more serious concern is for astronauts in environments like the International Space Station, where heightened radiation during storms can increase safety risks and require added protective measures," Cai said,  according to the report.