U.S. weather agency issues severe geomagnetic storm warning

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a warning for a severe geomagnetic storm through Thursday, following the arrival of a major coronal mass ejection (CME).

According to NOAA, solar activity on Tuesday produced an X5.1-class solar flare associated with a CME whose remnants have now reached near-Earth space.

"We have seen the final CME arrive and are now waiting to see just how much magnetic energy exists within," NOAA said in an alert on Wednesday.

A CME is an eruption of solar material and magnetic fields that, upon reaching Earth, can trigger geomagnetic storms, according to NOAA.

The agency warned that enhanced solar radiation could increase biological risks for astronauts and passengers and crew on high-latitude, high-altitude flights, and may cause single-event effects on satellite systems. Enditem