Frequently Asked Questions

Carrington is a real-time space weather and earthquake monitoring app. It aggregates data from authoritative sources — NOAA, NASA, and USGS — to deliver push alerts for geomagnetic storms, solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and significant earthquakes worldwide.

The app also features a live aurora visibility forecast, a global seismic activity map, and a wind visualization layer so you can see planetary-scale atmospheric patterns at a glance.

Carrington integrates data from several trusted scientific agencies:

• NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) — Kp index, geomagnetic storm watches, solar flare alerts, and proton event data.
• NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory — High-resolution solar imagery and coronal feature data.
• USGS Earthquake Hazards Program — Global seismic event catalog, updated continuously.
• Regional seismological networks — Supplementary local earthquake data for higher granularity.
• NOAA GFS atmospheric models — The wind visualization layer.

Yes. Carrington monitors earthquakes and space weather worldwide. Seismic alerts cover all regions tracked by USGS and partnered regional networks. Space weather is a truly global phenomenon — geomagnetic storms and solar events affect the entire planet simultaneously.

Carrington sources earthquake data from the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and partnered regional seismological networks. When a qualifying seismic event is detected, a push notification is dispatched within minutes.

You can configure minimum magnitude thresholds (e.g., alerts for M4.0 and above) and set a geographic radius around your location so you only receive alerts relevant to you.

Alert accuracy depends on the underlying USGS and regional seismograph network data, which represents the global scientific standard for seismic monitoring. Carrington transmits these alerts as fast as possible — typically within 1–5 minutes of USGS publication for significant events.

Location and magnitude estimates may be revised by seismologists after the initial publication as more seismograph stations report in. The app automatically reflects those updates.

Yes. The event history section displays past seismic events. Free users can view recent events. Advanced and Premium subscribers have access to extended history going back months or years.

Space weather alerts are driven by data from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). The app monitors the Kp index for geomagnetic activity, X-ray flux for solar flare classification (A/B/C/M/X-class), and proton event thresholds for radiation storms.

An alert fires when any of those values cross the thresholds you select in your notification preferences.

The Kp index (planetary K-index) is a 0–9 scale measuring global geomagnetic disturbance. It is updated every three hours by NOAA.

• Kp 0–3 — Quiet to unsettled. No significant effects.
• Kp 4 — Active conditions. Minor impacts possible at high latitudes.
• Kp 5–6 — Minor to moderate geomagnetic storm (G1–G2). Auroras visible at latitudes above ~50°N/S.
• Kp 7–8 — Strong to severe storm (G3–G4). Aurora at mid-latitudes. Possible GPS and power-grid impacts.
• Kp 9 — Extreme storm (G5). Widespread infrastructure effects possible.

Carrington alerts you when Kp reaches or exceeds your chosen threshold. Read our full guide on space weather.

A coronal mass ejection is a large expulsion of plasma and magnetic field from the Sun's corona. When a CME is directed toward Earth, it can arrive in 1–3 days and interact with Earth's magnetic field, producing a geomagnetic storm. Carrington monitors CME forecasts from NOAA and alerts you to Earth-directed events with significant storm potential.

The Carrington app is free to download — core earthquake and space weather alerts, the global seismic map, and the live wind and aurora maps are included at no cost. Two paid subscriptions unlock premium features:

• Advanced — $1.99/month or $14.99/year (~$1.25/mo). Extended event history, additional data layers, and enhanced alert customization.
• Premium — $2.99/month or $19.99/year (~$1.67/mo). All features, exclusive data streams, the earliest possible alerts, and priority support.

Prices are in USD; annual plans save roughly 35% versus monthly. You can subscribe on the web at carrington.app/pricing (billed securely by Stripe) and your premium access unlocks in the app automatically once you sign in with the same account.

Subscribe on the web at carrington.app/pricing — sign in with your email or Google account and check out securely through Stripe. Your subscription unlocks premium features in the iOS and Android app automatically once you sign in with the same account.

You can cancel anytime; your premium access continues until the end of the billing period. Subscriptions purchased inside the app instead are billed and managed through the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).

Open Carrington and go to Settings → Notifications. From there you can:

• Enable or disable earthquake, space weather, and aurora alerts individually.
• Set a minimum earthquake magnitude threshold (e.g., M4.0 and above).
• Optionally filter by a geographic radius around your location.
• Choose the Kp threshold that triggers a space weather alert.

Make sure Carrington has notification permissions in your device's system settings (Settings → Notifications → Carrington on iOS, or Settings → Apps → Carrington → Notifications on Android).

If notifications are not arriving, check the following:

• Confirm that Carrington has notification permission in your device's system settings.
• Verify that in-app notification preferences (Settings → Notifications) have at least one alert type enabled.
• Ensure Do Not Disturb or Focus modes are not silencing the app.
• Check that your internet connection is active so the device can receive push messages.