Yesterday, the Sun fired one of the top strongest flares of the current cycle. Each Solar Cycle in Space Weather last 11 years. We are currently at the peak of Solar Cycle #24, known as Solar Maximum. Although we have had much stronger flares in the past, this one is of great significance due to the location of the Sun Spot that fired the flare. This is the most Earth directed X type flare I have ever seen in the past 5 years of watching Space Weather events...that being said we might see Auroras as far down as in Pennsylvania :) More details below from NOAA NWS Space Weather Prediction Center as well as an article from Space WATCH: Geomagnetic Storm Category G3 Predicted Highest Storm Level Predicted by Day: Sep 12: G2 (Moderate) Sep 13: G3 (Strong) Sep 14: G1 (Minor) THIS SUPERSEDES ANY/ALL PRIOR WATCHES IN EFFECT Comment: Upgrading the Watch for 13-14 Sep due to anticipated effects from the CME associated with yesterdays R3 (Strong) event. Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 50 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude. Induced Currents - Power system voltage irregularities possible, false alarms may be triggered on some protection devices. Spacecraft - Systems may experience surface charging; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites and orientation problems may occur. Navigation - Intermittent satellite navigation (GPS) problems, including loss-of-lock and increased range error may occur. Radio - HF (high frequency) radio may be intermittent. Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as Pennsylvania to Iowa to Oregon.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:54:28 +0000
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