Preface: Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) impact Earth’s magnetic field, and their effects depend on the intensity and direction of the CME. Mild impacts can cause minor disturbances (such as beautiful auroras), while severe impacts can lead to serious consequences such as power grid failures, satellite damage, and radio outages. They can even trigger widespread technological disruptions, as seen in the Carrington Event of 1859. Scientists closely monitor these geomagnetic storms and use a G1-G5 scale to predict their impacts. The effects of geomagnetic storms are wide-ranging, encompassing almost everything from GPS to the internet, especially in vulnerable areas with dense power transmission lines.
Background: On December 4, 2025, the Sun did produce an M6-class solar flare from sunspot AR 4300, which launched a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) likely directed at Earth, contributing to subsequent moderate geomagnetic storming and aurora displays around December 8-9, 2025. This event, combined with other flares from active regions like AR 4299, led to strong aurora alerts and impacts on satellites/radio.
Major earthquake strikes Japan’s north-east coast on 9th Dec 2025. The quake occurred at 23:15 (14:15 GMT) at a depth of 50km (31 miles), about 80km off the coast of the Aomori region.
Unproven causal relationship: While the idea that solar storms (CMEs) trigger earthquakes is popular, scientific consensus remains divided; major geological bodies like the USGS say there’s no proven link, but some research suggests statistically significant correlations where large solar events might precede earthquakes by influencing Earth’s magnetic field or triggering subterranean processes, though it’s not a direct, reliable cause-and-effect for short-term prediction. Earthquakes are primarily driven by internal tectonic forces, while solar events affect space weather, creating a complex interaction.
The effect of coronal mass ejections on the angle of Earth’s magnetic field: The Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) whose magnetic field is oriented less than 5 degrees (meaning very southward, opposite Earth’s) relative to Earth’s magnetic field is extremely serious, as it allows for efficient magnetic reconnection, dramatically enhancing geomagnetic storms, power grid failures, and satellite disruption. A CME’s “angle to Earth” refers to the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) direction within the CME; a southward orientation (small angle, like <5°) allows the fields to “lock” and merge, unleashing huge energy, whereas a northward orientation (large angle) deflects most of the solar plasma.
Headlines news: Please refer to the link for details – https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/japan-warns-3-metre-high-tsunami-after-magnitude-72-earthquake-2025-12-08/