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Aditya‑L1 Data Reveal Dawn‑Sector Magnetic Reversals During 2024 Superstorms

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Aditya‑L1 observations identify unusual dawn‑sector perturbations Combined measurements from India’s Aditya‑L1 solar mission and a global network of ground magnetometers captured two extreme geomagnetic storms on 10 May and 10 October 2024, revealing a dawn‑sector magnetic polarity reversal not recorded in previous events [1].

Standard pressure‑driven responses inverted at dawn Normally, sudden solar‑wind pressure increases generate positive low‑latitude magnetic perturbations and pressure drops produce negatives, but during the 2024 storms a pressure rise caused a global increase yet a decrease at dawn‑side stations, and a pressure drop produced the opposite pattern [1].

Compressed auroral currents likely extended equatorward Researchers from the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism propose that a high‑latitude auroral current system was compressed into the dawn sector and pushed toward the equator during the superstorms, creating the anomalous magnetic signatures observed [1].

Rapid magnetic variations threaten technology infrastructure The study highlights that swift, localized magnetic changes can disrupt satellites, navigation systems, and power‑grid operations, underscoring the need for protective measures against such extreme space‑weather events [1].

Coordinated space‑ground analysis proves essential The joint analysis of Aditya‑L1 particle and field data with extensive ground magnetometer records provided new insight into how extreme solar‑wind conditions alter geomagnetic behavior near dawn, demonstrating the value of integrated observations for future forecasting [1].

Sources

Timeline

2006 – The last ground‑level enhancement (GLE) of comparable magnitude occurs, establishing a benchmark for extreme solar particle events [2].

May 2024 – Aditya‑L1 and six U.S. spacecraft (Wind, ACE, THEMIS‑C, STEREO‑A, MMS, DSCOVR) jointly observe the strongest solar storm in over two decades; two coronal mass ejections collide, creating a magnetic reconnection region ~1.3 million km across and driving unprecedented particle‑energy spikes [5].

10 May 2024 – Ground magnetometers record a dawn‑sector polarity reversal when a sudden solar‑wind pressure rise produces a negative magnetic perturbation at dawn‑side stations, contrary to the usual global positive response [3].

13 Sep 2024 – Aditya‑L1 captures a medium‑sized CME (mass ≈ 270 million t, temperature ≈ 1.8 MK, energy ≈ 2.2 million MT TNT) that becomes a reference event for forecasting the upcoming solar‑maximum activity [1].

10 Oct 2024 – A solar‑wind pressure drop triggers a global magnetic decrease but a simultaneous increase at dawn‑side stations, confirming the dawn‑sector reversal pattern seen in May 2024 [3].

Oct 2024 – Combined Aditya‑L1 and international mission data show the October CME compresses Earth’s magnetosphere, pushing the magnetic boundary inward, briefly exposing GEO satellites to harsh space conditions and intensifying auroral currents that heat the upper atmosphere [4].

11 Nov 2025 – A ground‑level enhancement produces record‑high radiation at commercial flight altitudes (~40 000 ft), reaching ~10 × normal background and potentially causing ~60 single‑event upsets per hour per gigabyte in avionics [2].

1 Dec 2025 – India readies Aditya‑L1 to monitor the Sun during the 2026 solar‑maximum peak, projecting CME frequencies of >10 per day and emphasizing the mission’s VELC coronagraph for continuous corona imaging [1].

2 Dec 2025 – Balloon‑borne sensors from the Surrey Space Centre, integrated into a new UK‑Netherlands monitoring network (Lerwick, Guildford, Camborne), record in‑situ particle fluxes during the Nov 11 GLE, enhancing real‑time space‑weather mapping [2].

9 Dec 2025 – Researchers publish a multi‑point analysis of the May 2024 storm, mapping the unprecedented 1.3 million‑km reconnection region and demonstrating how coordinated observations improve understanding of CME evolution [5].

10 Jan 2026 – A paper in The Astrophysical Journal details how the October 2024 eruption compresses Earth’s magnetosphere, brings GEO satellites into harsher environments, and raises upper‑atmosphere heating, underscoring the need for continuous space‑weather monitoring [4].

20 Feb 2026 – Joint Aditya‑L1 and global ground‑magnetometer study explains the dawn‑sector magnetic reversals of the May and October 2024 superstorms, highlighting rapid magnetic variations that threaten satellites, navigation, and power‑grid infrastructure [3].

2026 (solar maximum) – Throughout the peak of Solar Cycle 25, Aditya‑L1’s VELC coronagraph provides near‑continuous visible‑light observations of the corona, enabling real‑time measurement of CME temperature and heat energy to improve forecasts for satellite safety and power‑grid resilience [1].

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