Upcoming CME Could Initiate Further Stratospheric Warming
By Andrew at 1:41 PM


A coronal mass ejection, or CME, appears to be likely to hit Earth in the next several days.

The image displayed here shows the solar wind forecast for the late hours of January 16th. If we look at the top left set of images, we see a small but intense band of colors just beginning to hit a small green circle. That green circle is Earth, and that small band of colors is a coronal mass ejection (CME). When the sun gets 'agitated', it puts out a burst of energy that can fly in any direction. Some happen to put Earth in the line of fire, and this is one of those times.

If this happens, radio transmissions may be disrupted, some airplanes may see slight communication difficulties, but unless this event becomes major in the next model forecast, this will not be a significant event.

However, this could have further implications onto the stratosphere. It is evidenced that there is a strong correlation between sudden solar activity (CME) and sudden stratospheric warmings. If this is to be believed, the chances for further sudden stratospheric warmings (and an even cooler prospect for February) could rise in coming days and weeks.

Andrew [link to theweathercentre.blogspot.de]