Report of latest solar flare activity April 26 2012

Report of latest solar flare activity April 26 2012

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 25/2100Z
to 26/2100Z: Solar activity was at low levels. Region 1460 (N15W93)
and Region 1465 (S18W39) both produced C1 x-ray events at 25/2242Z
and 26/1723Z respectively. Both had associated CMEs but neither are
expected to be geoeffective. Three consecutive CMEs appeared on
LASCO/C2 imagery at 26/0924Z, 26/1148Z, and 26/1638Z. All three
were around the west limb and are not expected to be geoeffective.

IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to remain
low with a slight chance for M-class activity for the next three
days (27 - 29 April).

IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 25/2100Z to 26/2100Z:
The geomagnetic field started the period at minor storm levels, but
fell to quiet levels and remained mostly quiet for the remainder of
the period. This activity was attributed to Coronal Hole High Speed
Stream (CH HSS) effects. Solar wind speeds have steadily decreased
from approximately 730 km/s to approximately 560 km/s. The Bz
component of the interplanetary magnetic field has remained fairly
neutral with minor fluctuations between +3 and -5 nT. Overall, the
total field fluctuated between +2 and +8 nT. The greater than 2 MeV
electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels throughout
the period.

IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is
expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels with isolated active
periods for day one (27 April) as CH HSS effects begin to wane.
Days two and three (28 -29 April) are expected to be mostly quiet.



A long lasting Geomagnetic Storm that reached very close to the Strong G3 Level took place Monday night and early Tuesday morning. Visible Aurora was seen in many locations and Ham Radio operators were able to make numerous contacts via the Aurora on the 6 meter (50mhz) amateur radio band. This storm was due to a sharply south pointing component of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) that allowed the solar wind to flow in and generate aurora. Things are now starting to return to quieter levels.

UPDATE: Minor Geomagnetic Storm conditions (Kp=5) did again flare up on both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The solar wind is currently near 500 km/s. Be on the lookout for Aurora at very high latitudes.

Updated 4/26/2012 @ 13:40 UTC
Solar Update
Solar activity is currently at very low levels. Sunspot 1460 just rotated onto the western limb and out of direct Earth view. Sunspot 1459 which continues to decay, will also join 1460 on the limb by the weekend. Elsewhere, Sunspot 1465 did have a Beta-Gamma-Delta magnetic configuration, but has itself decayed and is no longer a threat for strong solar flares. There will continue to be a chance for C-Class flares.

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity
SDF Number 117 Issued at 2200Z on 26 Apr 2012

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 25/2100Z
to 26/2100Z: Solar activity was at low levels. Region 1460 (N15W93)
and Region 1465 (S18W39) both produced C1 x-ray events at 25/2242Z
and 26/1723Z respectively. Both had associated CMEs but neither are
expected to be geoeffective. Three consecutive CMEs appeared on
LASCO/C2 imagery at 26/0924Z, 26/1148Z, and 26/1638Z. All three
were around the west limb and are not expected to be geoeffective.

IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to remain
low with a slight chance for M-class activity for the next three
days (27 - 29 April).

IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 25/2100Z to 26/2100Z:
The geomagnetic field started the period at minor storm levels, but
fell to quiet levels and remained mostly quiet for the remainder of
the period. This activity was attributed to Coronal Hole High Speed
Stream (CH HSS) effects. Solar wind speeds have steadily decreased
from approximately 730 km/s to approximately 560 km/s. The Bz
component of the interplanetary magnetic field has remained fairly
neutral with minor fluctuations between +3 and -5 nT. Overall, the
total field fluctuated between +2 and +8 nT. The greater than 2 MeV
electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels throughout
the period.

IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is
expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels with isolated active
periods for day one (27 April) as CH HSS effects begin to wane.
Days two and three (28 -29 April) are expected to be mostly quiet.