Todays Solar Flare Activity April 24 2012 Causing Geomagnetic Storm Aurora

C-Class Flare and CME
A couple of new sunspots are rotating into view off the eastern limb. One of these regions located off the northeast limb produced a C3.7 Solar Flare at 07:45 UTC this morning and was associated with a Type II Sweep Frequency Event and CME. Due to the spots location, the plasma cloud should be directed mostly towards the east.

ALERT: Type II Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2012 Apr 24 0748 UTC
Estimated Velocity: 1029 km/s
Description: Type II emissions occur in association with eruptions on the sun and typically indicate a coronal mass ejection is associated with a flare event.

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 22/2100Z
to 23/2100Z: Solar activity has been at low levels for the past 24
hours. There are currently 8 active regions on the disk, with 5
regions having sunspots. The spotted regions on the disk all
remained rather quiet and stable throughout the period. However,
around plage Region 1461 (N10W19), two C-class events were observed
today with associated Earth directed CMEs.

IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be at
low levels with a chance for M-class x-ray events for the next three
days (24 - 26 April).

IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 22/2100Z to 23/2100Z:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to minor storm levels for the
past 24 hours. Observations made by the ACE spacecraft, around
23/0200Z, indicated the arrival of a CME that lifted off the solar
disk on 19 April. Solar wind velocities increased from 350 - 400
km/s with the total IMF reaching around 18 nT. The Boulder
magnetometer measured a 31 nT sudden impulse at 23/0325Z in
conjunction with the CME arrival here at Earth. From then on, active
to minor storm levels were observed due to multiple periods of
sustained negative Bz.

IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is
expected to be at quiet to active levels with a slight chance for a
minor storm on day 1 (24 April) as effects from the CME wane and a
coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) moves in. Quiet to active
levels are expected on day two (25 April) as the effects of the CH
HSS continue. An increase to quiet to minor storm levels are
expected on day three (26 April) as the two CMEs, observed earlier
in the period, are expected to become geoeffective.

Todays Solar Flare Activity April 23 2012 Causing Geomagnetic Storm Aurora

Todays Solar Flare Activity April 23 2012 Causing Geomagnetic Storm Aurora

Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from  21/2100Z
to 22/2100Z:  Solar activity was low. Occasional low-level C-class
flares occurred. Region 1459 (S15W25 - Dki/beta) produced a single
C-class flare and showed signs of gradual decay in its intermediate
portion. Region 1465 (S18E14 - Dai/beta) produced two C-class flares
and showed spot and penumbral development as well as some polarity
mixing in its intermediate portion. New Region 1466 (N12E29 -
Cso/beta) emerged early in the period and gradually grew. No
Earth-directed CMEs were observed during the period.

IB.  Solar Activity Forecast:  Solar activity is expected to be low
through the period (23 - 25 April) with a chance for an isolated
M-class flare.

IIA.  Geophysical Activity Summary 21/2100Z to 22/2100Z:
Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to unsettled levels with a
brief interval of active levels at high latitudes.

IIB.  Geophysical Activity Forecast:  Geomagnetic field activity is
expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels during days 1 - 2 (23 -
24 April) with a chance for active levels due mainly to a recurrent
coronal hole high-speed stream. Weak CME-passage effects are also
possible on day 1 from the partial-halo CME observed on 19 April.
Field activity is expected to decrease to mostly quiet levels on day
3 (25 April).

 Solar Update
Things remain very quiet on the Sun with no noteworthy solar flares to report. Sunspot 1462 is now heading for the southwest limb. A new sunspot may be hiding on the southeast limb and will soon rotate into direct Earth view.

  

Aurora Watch / G1 Geomagnetic Storm

 A incoming CME shock swept past our planet at 03:25 UTC. A geomagnetic sudden impulse of 31 nT was detected by the Boulder, Colorado magnetometer. The ACE Spacecraft did show a solar wind increase to near 400 km/s. Only minor geomagnetic activity resulted at very high latitudes.

Update: A Minor Geomagnetic Storm (Kp=5) is now in progress at high latitudes. This is due to a south tilting component of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field combined with an elevated solar wind speed. Be on the lookout for Aurora if it is dark outside.

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 5
Threshold Reached: 2012 Apr 23 1937 UTC
Synoptic Period: 1800-2100 UTC
Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G1 - Minor

Latest solar flare report April 17 2012

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity
SDF Number 108 Issued at 2200Z on 17 Apr 2012

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 16/2100Z
to 17/2100Z: Solar activity has been low for the past 24 hours. A
long duration C1 flare was observed from new Region 1461 (N13E66) at
17/0809Z. An associated CME became visible in LASCO C2 imagery at
17/0800Z but does not appear to be Earth-directed. A filament
eruption occurred at approximately 17/1330Z near N24W40. The
associated CME was first visible in LASCO C2 imagery at 17/1424Z but
is not expected to be geoeffective. New Region 1460 (N16E26) was
also numbered overnight and is considered a Dso-beta type spot
group. Region 1459 (S15E40) has shown a significant decrease in
areal coverage and is now a Dao-beta type spot group.

IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be low
with a slight chance for an M-class flare for the next three days
(18-20 April).

IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 16/2100Z to 17/2100Z:
The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet during the past 24 hours. The
greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached
high levels during the period.

IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is
expected to be mostly quiet on days one and two (18-19 April). Quiet
to unsettled conditions are expected with a chance for isolated
active periods on day three (20 April) due to a recurrent Solar
Sector Boundary Crossing (SSBC).

Solar flare and Geophysical Activity update April 2012

Solar Update
Solar activity remains very low with only B-Class X-Ray activity detected mostly around Sunspot 1450 and region 1451. The leader spot located within 1450 did show some growth over the past 24 hours. There will be a chance for C-Class flares.

Prepared jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,
Space Weather Prediction Center and the U.S. Air Force.

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity
SDF Number 094 Issued at 2200Z on 03 Apr 2012

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 02/2100Z
to 03/2100Z: Solar activity has been very low for the past 24 hours.
Region 1450 (N16W04) produced two B4 flare events, one at 02/2220Z
and the other at 03/1228Z. A weak CME associated with a filament
eruption near N30E11, became visible on LASCO C2 imagery at
02/2348Z. This CME has a northerly trajectory and is not expected
to be geoeffective.

IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be very
low with a chance for C-class flares for the next three days (04-06
April).

IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 02/2100Z to 03/2100Z:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels for the past 24 hours.

IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is
expected to be quiet to unsettled on days one and two (04-05 April)
due to a coronal hole high speed stream becoming geoeffective on 04
April, followed by the anticipated arrival of a weak CME associated
with the filament eruption that occurred at 02/0224Z. Day three (06
April) is expected to return to quiet levels.

III. Event Probabilities 04 Apr-06 Apr
Class M 01/01/01
Class X 01/01/01
Proton 01/01/01
PCAF green

Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity
SDF Number 093 Issued at 2200Z on 02 Apr 2012

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 01/2100Z
to 02/2100Z: Solar activity has been very low for the past 24 hours.
Region 1451 (N17E25) produced a B7 event at 02/0234Z. New Regions
1452 (N18E47) and 1453 (S17E01) were numbered today. A weak
Earth-directed CME, associated with a filament eruption near N26E14,
became visible on LASCO C2 imagery at 02/0224Z.

IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be very
low with a chance for C-class activity for the next three days
(03-05 April).

IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 01/2100Z to 02/2100Z:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled during the past 24
hours.

IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is
expected to be mostly quiet on day one (03 April). Quiet to
unsettled conditions are expected on days two and three (04-05
April) due to a coronal hole high speed stream becoming geoeffective
early on 04 April followed the next day by the arrival of the weak
CME associated with this mornings filament eruption.

Latest Report of Solar flares and Geophysical Activity

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity
SDF Number 091 Issued at 2200Z on 31 Mar 2012

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 30/2100Z
to 31/2100Z: Solar activity was low. A single C1/Sf flare was
observed from Region 1451 (N17E53) at 30/2112Z. New Region 1451 was
a simple Cro type group with a beta magnetic configuration. New
Region 1450 (N15E38) was also numbered and also a Cro type group
with beta magnetic characteristics. The remaining regions were
quiet and magnetically simple.

IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be at
very low to low levels. An isolated C-class flare is likely with a
slight chance for an M-class event.

IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 30/2100Z to 31/2100Z:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels. Solar wind speed measured at the ACE spacecraft ranged from around 450 km/s at the beginning of the period to 350 km/s at the end of the period. Bz was generally neutral. ACE data suggested a solar sector boundary crossing from negative to positive sector around 31/14Z.

IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagentic field is
expected to be predominantly quiet for the next three days (01-03
April).