As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

[Maria]

LONG DURATION SOLAR FLARE: Magnetic fields around sunspot AR2434 erupted during the early hours of Oct. 22nd, producing a solar flare that lasted for hours. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory took this extreme UV picture of the eruption:

The peak X-ray intensity of the flare was relatively low; on the Richter Scale of Solar Flares it registered only C4. What the flare lacked in amplitude, however, it made up for in longevity. The hours-long blast was powerful and produced a bright CME: movie. The CME does not appear to be heading directly for Earth, but it might have an Earth-directed component. This is a preliminary conclusion based on limited data, so stay tuned for updates.

http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php ... &year=2015

[Maria]

On November 4, 2015, we had three M-Class Solar Flares.

The first was a M-1.9 (Sunspot 2245) , the second an M-2.5 (Sunspot 2245), and the third was an M-3.7.

EXPLOSION RISES, FALLS BACK TO THE SUN: Sunspot AR2445 erupted during the early hours of Nov. 4th--but the blast lacked "umph." Much of the material hurled aloft by the explosion fell back to the surface of the sun. Click to view a movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory:

The flash of electromagnetic radiation shown in the movie registered M1.9 on the Richter Scale of Solar Flares. Plasma rushed away from the blast site, as usual, but only a fraction of it escaped. A dark magnetic filament connected to the underlying sunspot may have interfered with the escape. SOHO has recorded only a minor CME emerging from the area, and it is not heading for Earth. Solar flare alerts: text or voice

http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php ... &year=2015

Shown below are the other two flares, both of which showed a dip before the rise.
1203 UT M2.5, which was a sharp impulsive flare (aka Magnetic Crochet) - > Sunspot 2245
1353 UT M3.7 (most likely Sunspot 2245, as Sunspot 2243 is decaying)

[Maria]

Global view (Ignore the comments, just look at the graph, which has been updated):
http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/vi ... 168#p65784

Current information about solar activity:
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/goes-x-ray-flux

Warnings and alerts (graph)
http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/vi ... 168#p65787

Warnings and alerts (explanations):
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/alert ... d-warnings

New global view with current sunspots
http://www.sidc.be/LatestSWData/LatestSWData.php

[Maria]

We have six active sunspots. With the uptick of activities, we could experience an M flare later today (15% chance per NASA).

Below is a goes x-ray flux one minute chart:

[Maria]

We have had four M-Class Solar flares within the last three days.

Here are some of the active sunspots of our sun. 2473 is the actively flaring sunspot that produced an M4.7 flare at 0040 UT on December 23, 2015 (Dec. 22, 2015 at 4:40 PM PST).

[Maria]

Interestingly, year 2015 has not experienced any spotless days, while 2014 had one.

Here is a graph showing the four M-Class solar flares during these past three days.

The one at 0040 UT on Dec. 23, 2015 was an M4.7.

[Maria]

Below is the list of five significant solar flares that we have experienced over the past four days.

About two yours ago, we just had another M1.1 solar flare with a very slow decline. This means that Australia really got blasted. It seems a majority of sunspots hit New Zealand (NZ) and Australia as seen below.
Perhaps this is why they have problems with skin cancer.

Time given is Universal Time (UT). 0040 UT on Dec. 23 = 4:40 PM PST Dec. 22.

Date time strength sunspot affected

12-21 0103 M2.8 # 2272 (NZ and Australia)
12-21 1019 M1.1 # 2272 (Africa and Europe)

12-22 0334 M1.6 # 2273 (Australia)

12-23 0040 M4.7 # 2273 (New Zealand)

12-24 0212 M1.1 # 2273 (Australia)

Click here to view a dynamic global plot. It takes about one minute to load.
http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/vi ... 168#p65784