Unexpected major geomagnetic storm caused by faint eruption of a solar trans-equatorial flux rope

Weilin Teng, Yingna Su (), Haisheng Ji () and Qingmin Zhang
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Weilin Teng: Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yingna Su: Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Haisheng Ji: Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qingmin Zhang: Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract Some geomagnetic storms’ solar origins are ambiguous, making them hard to predict. On March 23, 2023, a severe geomagnetic storm occurred, however, forecasts based on remote-sensing observations failed to predict it. Here, we show clear evidence that this storm originates from the eruption of a trans-equatorial, longitudinal and low-density magnetic flux rope (FR) with weaker coronal emission and no chromospheric signs. The FR’s gentle eruption results in a faint full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME), which is missed by forecasters and not included in CME catalogs. Combining magnetic field modeling and in-situ measurements, we reveal the FR’s southward axial magnetic field as the main cause of the geomagnetic storm. This CME is the stealthiest one reported causing a severe geomagnetic storm. Our study highlights that erupting trans-equatorial FRs can generate major geomagnetic storms in a stealthy way. Characteristic observational signatures of similar eruptions are proposed to help in future forecasts.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-53538-1

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