Sub-sea observatories deployed as deep as 2.7 kilometres under the ocean害羞草研究所檚 surface were triggered by the Aurora Borealis on Friday, May 10.

The findings were discovered by Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), a University of Victoria (UVIC) initiative after compasses deep in the ocean were activated.

害羞草研究所淭he reach of these data recordings kilometres under the ocean surface highlights the magnitude of the solar flare over the past weekend,害羞草研究所� says Kate Moran, ONC president and chief executive officer.

These solar storm magnetic disturbances were discovered during data quality control checks. ONC primarily uses compasses to orient its instruments, which measure ocean currents.

害羞草研究所淚 looked into whether it was potentially an earthquake, but that didn害羞草研究所檛 make a lot of sense because the changes in the data were lasting for too long and concurrently at different locations,害羞草研究所� Alex Slonimer, a scientific data specialist at ONC, said. 害羞草研究所淭hen, I looked into whether it was a solar flare as the sun has been active recently.害羞草研究所�

This past weekend害羞草研究所檚 much larger solar event reinforced the observation, Sionmier said, with the peaks in the compass headings closely correlated to the peaks in the visible activity in the aurora.

ONC operates observatories in the deep ocean coastal waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic coasts of Canada and the Southern Ocean.

The cabled observatories supply continuous power and internet connectivity to scientific instruments, cameras and 12,000-plus ocean sensors.

Justin Albert, professor of physics with UVic害羞草研究所檚 Department of Physics and Astronomy, welcomes the new subsea geomagnetic detections.

害羞草研究所淥NC害羞草研究所檚 network might provide a very helpful additional window into the effects of solar activity on the Earth害羞草研究所檚 terrestrial magnetism,害羞草研究所� Albert said.

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