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Aditya-L1’s Breakthrough : 2024 Solar Storm

10 Dec 2025 GS 3 Science & Technology
Aditya-L1’s Breakthrough : 2024 Solar Storm Click to view full image

Background

  • Solar Storm (May 2024) also known as Gannon’s Storm.

  • Comprised of multiple Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) — massive bubbles of hot plasma and magnetic fields ejected from the Sun.

  • Solar storms can disrupt:

    • Satellites

    • GPS

    • Communications

    • Power grids

    • Earth’s magnetosphere

What Made the 2024 Storm Unusual?

  • Normally, each CME carries a twisted magnetic structure called a magnetic rope.

  • This rope interacts with Earth’s magnetic field as it travels outward.

  • This time, two CMEs collided in interplanetary space.

  • The collision compressed the magnetic structures so strongly that:

    • Magnetic field lines snapped and reconnected — a process known as magnetic reconnection.

  • This reconnection caused:

    • Sudden reversal of magnetic fields inside one CME.

    • Stronger-than-expected impact on Earth.

Aditya-L1’s Role

  • India’s first solar observatory at L1 point.

  • Participated in joint analysis with six U.S. satellites:

    1. NASA’s Wind

    2. ACE

    3. THEMIS-C

    4. STEREO-A

    5. MMS

    6. DSCOVR (NASA–NOAA)

  • Provided precise magnetic field measurements, enabling scientists to map the reconnection region inside the CME.

Key Scientific Discovery

  • Region of magnetic tearing and reconnection inside CME measured at:

    • 1.3 million km across (≈ 100 times Earth’s diameter).

  • First-ever observation of such a giant magnetic breakup inside a CME.

  • Enhances understanding of:

    • CME evolution between Sun and Earth

    • Space weather forecasting

    • Predicting severe geomagnetic storms

Prelims Practice MCQs

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the unusual May 2024 solar storm:

  1. The enhanced intensity of the storm was due to magnetic reconnection triggered by the collision of two CMEs.

  2. Magnetic field lines inside the CME remained stable throughout the event.

  3. The storm’s impact was stronger than expected because the magnetic field reversed direction.

Which of the statements above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 1 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A
Explanation:

  • Statement 1: Correct — CME collision caused reconnection.

  • Statement 2: Incorrect — field lines snapped and rejoined.

  • Statement 3: Correct — reversal intensified impact.



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