Solar Activity and Space Weather Update thread

[Stavros Kiri]

HARD RADIATION STORM: A powerful explosion on the sun today (June 8, 2024) peppered Earth and nearby spacecraft with "hard" protons. The radiation storm fogged satellite cameras for hours. Following close behind, a CME is heading for Earth, and its arrival on June 10th could spark G2-class geomagnetic storms.

Above: Today's M9.7-class solar flare recorded by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory

.

 

[Astronuc]

Sunspot AR3697 has made headlines again just before it makes another exit. The sunspot region, formerly known as AR3664, produced the historic geomagnetic storm that led to May's global auroras.

On Saturday (June 8), the sunspot fired off a M9.7-class solar flare, the second strongest type on the classification scale. The flare was powerful enough that it produced the strongest radiation storm since 2017, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). These types of events can pose a risk of impact to space launch operations and satellites, and can also disrupt shortwave radio signals.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/t...ongest-radiation-storm-since-2017/ar-BB1nYl0E

There should be some activity tonight.

On Monday (June 10), Region 3697 fired off an even stronger solar flare, a X1.5-class at 7:08 a.m. EST (1108 GMT). Parts of Earth's sunlit side could experience temporary or complete loss of high frequency (HF) radio signals. According to the SWPC forecast, solar activity is expected to be at minor to moderate levels the next few days as Region 3697 rotates out of sight.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

"INEFFECTIVE CME IMPACT: As predicted, a CME struck Earth's magnetic field on June 10th (1725 UT). However, the weak impact was ineffective; it did not cause a geomagnetic storm. The CME was hurled into space by an M9.7-class flare from sunspot AR3664/3697 on June 8th."

[The said sunspot, as already mentioned in the previous post above, is departing once again ...- see below]

"Solar wind
speed: 437.3 km/sec
density: 3.64 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0821 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C9 0443 UT Jun11
24-hr: X1 1108 UT Jun10
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 0825 UT

Daily Sun: 11 Jun 24

Expand: labels | no labels | Carrington

Sunspot AR3709 has a 'beta-gamma' magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI"


"Current Auroral Oval (for the American continent):

Credit: NOAA/Ovation


Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 4.00 unsettled
24-hr max: Kp= 4.33 unsettled
explanation | more data "

 

[Stavros Kiri]

THE MAY 10TH SUPERSTORM ELECTRIFIED EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE: The geomagnetic superstorm of May 10, 2024, did more than spark widespread auroras. New data show that it also electrified Earth's atmosphere. Fair weather electric fields jumped as much as 15% for four days after the storm.

Above: These data show how fair weather electric fields increased for 4 days after the onset of the May 10th superstorm. Credit: Prof. Gang Li, UAH

.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

GREEN GHOSTS IN A GEOMAGNETIC STORM: Last week, a photographer in South Dakota caught Green Ghosts in a geomagnetic storm. Green Ghosts are a relatively new discovery. They appear when sprites shoot into the atmosphere above strong thunderstorms. This may be the first time the mysterious ghosts have been photographed surrounded by auroras.

Above: Red sprites, Green Ghosts, and auroras over South Dakota on June 27th. Credit: Tom Warner.

.