Geomagnetic Solar Wind and K Index Watch: Incoming...

Sun May 02, 2010 7:59 pm » by **Chronicnerd**

The Sun is at it again and we have lots to view/understand. Today is a mark of some very interesting incoming solar wind that, to be frank, had no "pre-warning" assigned to it...

The solar wind count is spiking:
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ace/MAG_SWEPAM_24h.html
(600Km/sec) <normal is in the 100-300 range>

The K-Index just shot through the roof:
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/kp_3d.html

As well we are seeing seismic activity all over the planet right now:
http://www.iris.edu/seismon/

Just a heads up:
Chilli had some relatively high seismic activity today (which could spread north up towards California)

Greenland had some minor seismic activity (which could propagate towards Iceland)

The seismic board is "lit up" right now, and expectations of high speed coronal streams hitting us around May 3rd (tomorrow/today) have been finally announced.

The K-Index spike today aligns well with much of the seismic activity, and the geomagnetic flux is beginning to "oscillate" more than normal (which can trigger even more seismic activity).
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ace/MAG_24h.html

Just making note...K index up...seismic activity up...

Sun May 02, 2010 8:29 pm » by **Marduk2012**

Sun May 02, 2010 8:43 pm » by **Chronicnerd**

Yeop...the only thing that worries me is that most of the *normal* sites I frequented didn't give any form of "heads up" on this *incoming* CME? Or is it the coronal hole high speed streams? There wasn't any real...hey this is what is incoming...they typically have a 3-7 day window to report this...but I actually had *no clue* that this was on its way until today...

(beginning to wonder if the *powers that be* have caught on and are now "silencing" any formal "preparedness" reports/readings?)

Anyone else know that this was incoming? If so, what site did you use to determine this?

Sun May 02, 2010 8:48 pm » by **Capnmac**

G2 scale Geomagnetic Storm last 24 hrs and ongoing
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index2.php

Power systems: high-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms, long-duration storms may cause transformer damage.

Spacecraft operations: corrective actions to orientation may be required by ground control; possible changes in drag affect orbit predictions.

Other systems: HF radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes, and aurora has been seen as low as New York and Idaho (typically 55° geomagnetic lat.)**.
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/NOAAscales/#GeomagneticStorms

Mon May 03, 2010 5:13 pm » by **Marduk2012**

capnmac wrote:G2 scale Geomagnetic Storm last 24 hrs and ongoing
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index2.php

Power systems: high-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms, long-duration storms may cause transformer damage.

Spacecraft operations: corrective actions to orientation may be required by ground control; possible changes in drag affect orbit predictions.

Other systems: HF radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes, and aurora has been seen as low as New York and Idaho (typically 55° geomagnetic lat.)**.
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/NOAAscales/#GeomagneticStorms

Ze Magnetosphere got pounded, yesterday :mrcool:

Mon May 03, 2010 5:41 pm » by **Kingz**

Expect more in the coming days!

EMERGING SUNSPOTS: As of 1321 UT on May 3rd, there are four sunspot groups on the Earth-facing side of the sun: finder chart. The sun seems to be making up for two weeks of "blank days" in April. Readers with solar telescope s are encouraged to monitor developments.

http://spaceweather.com/

GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A high-speed solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field on May 2nd-3rd, sparking a G2-class geomagnetic storm that lasted more than 15 hours. In Valkeakoski, Finland, the auroras were so bright, they successfully competed with the midnight sun:

ALSO READ DESCRIPTIONS:

Joseph Shaw
Image taken:
May. 3, 2010
Location:
Bozeman, Montana
Details:
Nature gave us a subtle treat tonight. A red aurora just visible to the eye and easily visible to the camera (Nikon D300). Excellent treat given our latitude (45.67 N).

Tony Wilder
Image taken:
May. 1, 2010
Location:
Chippewa Falls, WI
Details:
Well Worth the Wait!! It's been 5 years since I last saw the Northern Lights in my neck of the woods. And what a show it was! I watched the lights from 11pm CST - 2am CST Even witnessed the ISS pass thru my frames three times. Once at 11:08 and again at 12:13 if I recall correctly.

Alan Dyer
Image taken:
May. 2, 2010
Location:
near Gleichen, Alberta
Details:
On Sunday, May 2, from here in southern Alberta, the aurora never got very bright and structured, just an auroral arc with faint rays reaching up the northern sky. But the camera picked up some nice mauve colours in the streamers. Still, after a long drought with little auroral activity it's a pleasant change to see some northern lights again.

Mike Alexander
Image taken:
May. 3, 2010
Location:
Galloway Astronomy Centre, Glasserton, Scotland, UK
Details:
The current geomagnetic storm triggered the first Aurora seen in this region since 2006. While not spectacular it was a very welcome return as I was not expecting any activity this far south (54N) until the end of the year. Nikon D50 Sigma 125mm f4 ISO 800 60s.

MORE HERE:
http://spaceweather.com/

NORTHERN LIGHTS / AURORAL ACTIVITY IS GOING AT IT WORLD WIDE:

AND NOW KP IS GOING ABOVE 800 :headscratch:

Mon May 03, 2010 5:44 pm » by **Marduk2012**

good post, man

keep it coming, Kingz :flop:

Mon May 03, 2010 5:45 pm » by **Marduk2012**

the sunspot circle will have its peek in 2012... :twisted:

maybe we would be here anyways....ehehe (WW3)

Mon May 03, 2010 5:49 pm » by **Marduk2012**

FRAK IT

Mon May 03, 2010 5:51 pm » by **Disillusioning**

GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A high-speed solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field on May 2nd-3rd, sparking a G2-class geomagnetic storm that lasted more than 15 hours. In Valkeakoski, Finland, the auroras were so bright, they successfully competed with the midnight sun:

"These were by far the best auroras I have seen since December 2006," says photographer Tom Eklund. "What a nice feeling!"

NOAA forecasters estimate a 45% chance of continued geomagnetic activity over the next 24 hours. High-latitute sky watchers should remain alert for auroras.

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 3 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 6 storm
(The K-index scale has a range from 0 to 9 and is directly related to the maximum amount of fluctuation (relative to a quiet day) in the geomagnetic field over a three-hour interval. )

A solar wind stream flowing from the indicated coronal hole could reach Earth on or about May 3rd. Credit: STEREO-B Extreme UV Telescope

Geomagnetic Storms:
Probabilities for significant disturbances in Earth's magnetic field are given for three activity levels: active, minor storm, severe storm
Updated at: 2010 May 02 2201 UTC

Mid-latitudes
0-24hr 24-48hr
Active 40% 40%
Minor 10% 10%
Sever 05% 05%

High-Latitudes
0-24hr 24-28hr
Active 45% 45%
Minor 20% 20%
Sever 10% 10%

Links- http://www.spaceweather.com - I use this site daily for space monitoring, its a great site.