As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

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Maria
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Re: As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

Post by Maria »

Here is the latest global plot showing decreased activities, but not quite normal as a normal background is black.

Global. 07-15-2017 1752 UT.png
Global. 07-15-2017 1752 UT.png (26.4 KiB) Viewed 1363 times

Below is the solar image for today showing, on the right (West) side of the sun, active regions: 2665, 2666, and 2667.

solar image_07-15-2017_1727 UT AR2665, 2666, 2667.jpg
solar image_07-15-2017_1727 UT AR2665, 2666, 2667.jpg (14.2 KiB) Viewed 1363 times

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Maria
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Re: As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

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The sun exploded in a huge C3.1 just a few minutes ago.

Here are some pictures from NOAA.

The top image shows a solar image of the sun with AR2665 unleashing a C3.1 and possible Coronal Mass Ejection.

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solar image_07-16-2017_0229 UT_AR2665_C Flaring.jpg
solar image_07-16-2017_0229 UT_AR2665_C Flaring.jpg (12.48 KiB) Viewed 1360 times
Global. 07-16-2017_C3.1_0235 UT.png
Global. 07-16-2017_C3.1_0235 UT.png (39.14 KiB) Viewed 1360 times

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Maria
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Re: As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

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Reference: www.spaceweather.com

THE CME HAS ARRIVED: A coronal mass ejection (CME) hurled toward Earth by sunspot AR2665 on July 14th has arrived. Its leading edge hit our planet's magnetic field on July 16th at approximately 0545 UT. NOAA forecasters say there is a 75% chance of G1- or G2-class geomagnetic storms later today as Earth passes through the CME's magnetized wake. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.

Here is the global plot:

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Global. 07-16-2017 0908 UT.png
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Luke
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Re: As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

Post by Luke »

One of the sun's outbursts on either Wednesday or Thursday actually made it to the evening news.

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Maria
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Re: As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

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Luke wrote:

One of the sun's outbursts on either Wednesday or Thursday actually made it to the evening news.

Yes, that was the M2.4 from AR2665. It was spectacular.

Currently, we are experiencing a CME from that M2.4.
Belgium and NOAA predict G1 through G2 Geomagnetic storms. Right now it is at G1

  • G 2 Moderate

    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.).

    Kp = 6 600 per cycle
    (360 days per cycle)

    G 1 Minor

    Power systems: Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.

    Spacecraft operations: Minor impact on satellite operations possible.

    Other systems: Migratory animals are affected at this and higher levels; aurora is commonly visible at high latitudes (northern Michigan and Maine).

    Kp = 5 1700 per cycle
    (900 days per cycle)

Source: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Below is a global plot showing a normal black background with an C1.2 class solar flare attributed to AR2665.

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Global. 07-16-2017_C1.2_1805 UT.png
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Maria
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Re: As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

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Currently, the earth is being bathed in a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) from sunspot area AR2665 with a G2 warning (see above description).

Notice that the Global plot shows a normal background.

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Global. 07-16-2017 2044 UTNormal plot.png
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Maria
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Re: As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

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Regarding the CME, www.spaceweather.com reports

CME STRIKE SPARKS GEOMAGNETIC STORMS: Geomagnetic storms are underway on July 16th following a CME strike at 0545 UT. Auroras have been sighted in New Zealand as well as US states such as Washington, Minnesota and Wyoming. Storm levels are currently flickering between G1 (minor) and G2 (moderately strong). High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras after local nightfall. ...

At the other end of the Earth, Arctic summer sunlight overwhelmed auroras overhead. Citizen scientist Rob Stammes of the Polarlightcenter in Lofoten, Norway, detected the effects of the storm anyway ... in the ground beneath his feet.

"My instruments recorded a surge in ground currents shortly after the CME hit," he explains. The green curve denotes electricity flowing through the soil:

Image

Ground currents are induced by the movement of Earth's magnetic field (the blue curve), rattling in response to the CME's impact. "I also detected a sudden increase in over-the-horizon radio signals (the yellow curve), indicating that the upper atmosphere was being ionized by the storm," he says.

Here is their gallery of aurora photos:

http://spaceweathergallery.com/aurora_gallery.html

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