Sol (Sun) and its phenomena
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An interesting research paper by Communications Medicine finds that geomagnetic activity can spike blood pressure levels.
ION REGION: A co-rotating interaction region (CIR) is expected to hit Earth on Aug. 18th, squeezing our magnetic field between fast and slow streams of solar wind. Watch for a sudden jump in solar wind speed, density, and magnetic field (especially Bz). Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms and high-latitude auroras are possible if Bz turns south. CIR impact alerts: SMS Text
Solar activity might be doing more than sparking auroras. A new study in Communications Medicine suggests it could be nudging your blood pressure, too.
Researchers in China analyzed more than half a million blood pressure readings taken over six years in the cities of Qingdao and Weihai. They compared those measurements to the Ap index, a standard measure of geomagnetic activity. The result: Blood pressure rises and falls in rhythm with magnetic unrest.
Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed a bimodal pattern, with peaks in spring and autumn, mirroring the seasonal ups and downs of geomagnetic activity. In years when geomagnetic activity was strong, blood pressure peaked about one month after the Ap index. During quieter years, the lag stretched to two months. The data revealed matching cycles at 12, 6, and sometimes 3 months -- present in the Ap index but absent from other environmental factors.
"We found that blood pressure and geomagnetic activity share distinct seasonal patterns," says Quanqi Shi, one of the paper's co-authors from Shandong University. "There seems to be a genuine link between the two."
Importantly, the study found no similar multi-month patterns in air temperature or PM2.5, two well-known influences on blood pressure. While temperature correlated more strongly with blood pressure in a straightforward statistical sense, its effect lacked the 6- and 3-monthcycles seen in geomagnetic data.
The authors stop short of saying that geomagnetic activity causes high blood pressure. Their data cannot prove cause and effect. Still, Shi and his colleagues are exploring how such a link might work.
"One possible mechanism involves the modulation of ultra-low frequency waves, specifically Schumann resonances (pictured right), which occur within Earth's magnetosphere. The fundamental frequency of Schumann resonances is approximately 7.8 Hz, with harmonics around 14.1, 20.3, 26.4, and 32.5 Hz. These fluctuations may interfere with human brain waves such as alpha (8–12 Hz), beta (12–30 Hz), and gamma (30–100 Hz)," Shi explains.
"The brain could then modulate neuroendocrine activity (for example, by altering the secretion of hormones such as vasopressin), which can gradually influence vascular tone and fluid balance. Such physiological adjustments may take weeks to accumulate, potentially explaining the observed 1-2 month delay."
"This is just a hypothesis," he stresses. "Further targeted studies are needed to confirm and clarify its potential mechanisms."
Want to learn more? The full paper may be found here.
And today's observations from Space Weather
BRIGHT FARSIDE CME: On Aug. 21st, a fast-moving CME blew away from the farside of the sun, forming a complete halo around the solar disk. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) recorded the explosion:
Radio emissions from shock waves inside the CME suggest it was moving at 1,200 km/s (2.7 million mph)--very fast, but not record-setting. If it hit Earth, it would almost certainly spark a strong geomagnetic storm.
However, it will not hit Earth. Instead, a NASA model predicts it will strike Mars on Aug. 25th, potentially sparking global UV auroras around the Red Planet.
ION REGION: A co-rotating interaction region (CIR) is expected to hit Earth on Aug. 18th, squeezing our magnetic field between fast and slow streams of solar wind. Watch for a sudden jump in solar wind speed, density, and magnetic field (especially Bz). Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms and high-latitude auroras are possible if Bz turns south. CIR impact alerts: SMS Text
Solar activity might be doing more than sparking auroras. A new study in Communications Medicine suggests it could be nudging your blood pressure, too.
Researchers in China analyzed more than half a million blood pressure readings taken over six years in the cities of Qingdao and Weihai. They compared those measurements to the Ap index, a standard measure of geomagnetic activity. The result: Blood pressure rises and falls in rhythm with magnetic unrest.
Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed a bimodal pattern, with peaks in spring and autumn, mirroring the seasonal ups and downs of geomagnetic activity. In years when geomagnetic activity was strong, blood pressure peaked about one month after the Ap index. During quieter years, the lag stretched to two months. The data revealed matching cycles at 12, 6, and sometimes 3 months -- present in the Ap index but absent from other environmental factors.
"We found that blood pressure and geomagnetic activity share distinct seasonal patterns," says Quanqi Shi, one of the paper's co-authors from Shandong University. "There seems to be a genuine link between the two."
Importantly, the study found no similar multi-month patterns in air temperature or PM2.5, two well-known influences on blood pressure. While temperature correlated more strongly with blood pressure in a straightforward statistical sense, its effect lacked the 6- and 3-monthcycles seen in geomagnetic data.
"One possible mechanism involves the modulation of ultra-low frequency waves, specifically Schumann resonances (pictured right), which occur within Earth's magnetosphere. The fundamental frequency of Schumann resonances is approximately 7.8 Hz, with harmonics around 14.1, 20.3, 26.4, and 32.5 Hz. These fluctuations may interfere with human brain waves such as alpha (8–12 Hz), beta (12–30 Hz), and gamma (30–100 Hz)," Shi explains.
"The brain could then modulate neuroendocrine activity (for example, by altering the secretion of hormones such as vasopressin), which can gradually influence vascular tone and fluid balance. Such physiological adjustments may take weeks to accumulate, potentially explaining the observed 1-2 month delay."
"This is just a hypothesis," he stresses. "Further targeted studies are needed to confirm and clarify its potential mechanisms."
Want to learn more? The full paper may be found here.
And today's observations from Space Weather
BRIGHT FARSIDE CME: On Aug. 21st, a fast-moving CME blew away from the farside of the sun, forming a complete halo around the solar disk. The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) recorded the explosion:
Radio emissions from shock waves inside the CME suggest it was moving at 1,200 km/s (2.7 million mph)--very fast, but not record-setting. If it hit Earth, it would almost certainly spark a strong geomagnetic storm.
However, it will not hit Earth. Instead, a NASA model predicts it will strike Mars on Aug. 25th, potentially sparking global UV auroras around the Red Planet.
Last edited:
Olivierlejardinier
Jedi Council Member
A new group of sunspots is emerging from the east limb, one of them produced a strong M4 flare this morning:
From the same author on X:
Despite moderate flaring these past few days the proton flux ramped up quite significantly maybe due to the past farside CME:
From the same author on X:
Despite moderate flaring these past few days the proton flux ramped up quite significantly maybe due to the past farside CME:
Olivierlejardinier
Jedi Council Member
Just a few days after the Carrington event's anniversary on August 28 1859, from Spaceweather.com:
Some comments from Vincent Levina on X:
A CME IS HEADING FOR EARTH: The sun is a tricky star. While we were watching giant sunspot 4197, a different, much smaller sunspot erupted. On Aug 30th at 20:02 UTC, sunspot 4204 produced a long duration M2.7-class solar flare:
Although the flare was not very intense, it lasted for 3 hours, long enough to lift a CME out of the sun's atmosphere. Indeed, new data from SOHO coronagraphs confirm that a CME is heading straight for Earth. Here it is.
A NASA model of the CME predicts it will strike our planet late on Sept. 1st. The impact could spark a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm spilling into Sept. 2nd. During such a storm, auroras may be photographed in US states as far south as Virginia, Missouri and Colorado.
Some comments from Vincent Levina on X:
Okay, sorry for all the model fatigue, but @e_philalethes pointed out that NASA M2M also modeled a weaker CME ahead of the faster M2.7 CME. This is nice, because the smaller CME may act like a push broom and create a nice, pristine environment for the large CME to expand into.
The clean environment may mean that the large CME can retain its speed and hit Earth with more power. The big CME mayalso combine with the small CME and increase geoeffectiveness.
So according to the model the CME should hit the Earth approximately the 02/09....
Time and Date writes:
7–8 September 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)
This link gives a map of the coverage:
Blood moon, from the Wiki for lunar eclipses
7–8 September 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon)
Under total lunar eclipse, there is this illustration of the principle.
This link gives a map of the coverage:
Blood moon, from the Wiki for lunar eclipses
The geomagnetic storm was caused by a solar wind stream from a coronal hole
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels for the past 24 hours. The Kp index is currently 5+ (16:11 UTC) with a solar wind speed of 637 km/sec. Total Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) reached 21 nT at 14/1916 UTC now 12 nT
These conditions (the IMF carried by the force of the solar wind, not CMEs) tend to "coincide" with climatic phenomena (Increase in severity storms, hurricanes, cyclones, etc.) or geological events (volcanic or seismic activity), mainly when the IMF component exceeds 10 nanoTeslas (nT)
These conditions (the IMF carried by the force of the solar wind, not CMEs) tend to "coincide" with climatic phenomena (Increase in severity storms, hurricanes, cyclones, etc.) or geological events (volcanic or seismic activity), mainly when the IMF component exceeds 10 nanoTeslas (nT)
However Solar activity has been at low levels for the past 24 hours. The strongest solar flare was recorded as C3.5, and these are expected to continue at C levels over the next 48 hours. The geomagnetic field has been at active to severe storm levels for the past 24 hours. Solar wind speed reached a peak of 823 km/s at 15/0553 UTC. Total IMF reached 19 nT at 14/2232 UTC
So far, there has been one M6.0 earthquake in the Solomon Sea 93 km (58 mi) from Papua New Guinea.
M 6.0 - 206 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
2025-09-16 16:59:51 (UTC)
5.469°S 153.752°E. 77.7 km depth USGS
Volcanic Eruption
Severe storm
M 6.0 - 206 km SE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
2025-09-16 16:59:51 (UTC)
5.469°S 153.752°E. 77.7 km depth USGS
Volcanic Eruption
Severe storm
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