Experimental NASA research models, based on observations from
the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) and the
ESA/NASA mission the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, show
that the CME left the sun at speeds of 275 miles per second.
This is a fairly typical speed for CMEs, though much slower than
the fastest ones, which can be almost ten times that speed. When
Earth-directed, CMEs can cause a space weather phenomenon called
a geomagnetic storm, which occurs when they successfully connect
up with the outside of the Earth's magnetic envelope, the
magnetosphere, for an extended period of time. In the past, CMEs
of this speed have not caused substantial geomagnetic storms.
They have caused auroras near the poles but are unlikely to
affect electrical systems on Earth or interfere with GPS or
satellite-based communications systems. Two active regions --
named AR 11652 and AR 11654 by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – have produced four low-level
M-class flares since Jan. 11.