Viewing archive of Thursday, 10 May 2012

Solar activity report

Any mentioned solar flare in this report has a scaling factor applied by the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). Because of the SWPC scaling factor, solar flares are reported as 42% smaller than for the science quality data. The scaling factor has been removed from our archived solar flare data to reflect the true physical units.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 2012 May 10 2200 UTC
Prepared by the NOAA © SWPC and processed by SpaceWeatherLive.com

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity

SDF Number 131 Issued at 2200Z on 10 May 2012

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 09-2100Z to 10-2100Z

Solar activity has been at high levels for the past 24 hours with multiple M-class solar flares observed. Region 1476 (N12E08) was responsible for almost all of the activity with 3 M-class events observed, the largest being a M5/2b event at 10/0418Z. Associated with these events, were discrete frequency radio bursts, Tenflares, and even a Type IV radio sweep. Region 1476 has shown mixed growth and shear effects across the polarities as it continues to evolve. A weak Earth directed CME was observed in STEREO COR2 A and B imagery early in the period. Analysis and current models show this CME joining the current coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Region 1477 (S22E47) was split into two regions today as SDO magnetogram data indicated the leader and follower sunspot groups were actually two magnetic bipoles. Leader group is Region 1477 and follower group is now Region 1478 (S24E55).
IB. Solar Activity Forecast
Solar activity is expected to be at moderate levels with a slight chance for X-class events for the next three days (11 - 13 May) as Region 1476 continues to grow and evolve.
IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 09-2100Z to 10-2100Z
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels for the past 24 hours with an isolated minor storm period observed at high latitudes. Solar wind measurements, as observed by the ACE spacecraft, showed a continued increase in solar wind speeds to around 620 km/s, a drop off in solar wind density, and the total IMF began to stabilize around 5 nT. These characteristics are indicative of a CH HSS. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels during the period.
IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast
The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels with a chance for active periods for the next three days (11 - 13 May). The increased activity is due to both the continued CH HSS effects and three weak, slow moving CMEs intertwined within.
III. Event Probabilities 11 May to 13 May
Class M75%75%75%
Class X20%20%20%
Proton10%10%10%
PCAFGreen
IV. Penticton 10.7 cm Flux
  Observed       10 May 131
  Predicted   11 May-13 May  130/130/130
  90 Day Mean        10 May 113
V. Geomagnetic A Indices
  Observed Afr/Ap 09 May  019/025
  Estimated     Afr/Ap 10 May  010/010
  Predicted    Afr/Ap 11 May-13 May  012/012-010/012-006/010
VI. Geomagnetic Activity Probabilities 11 May to 13 May
A. Middle Latitudes
Active20%20%15%
Minor storm05%05%01%
Major-severe storm01%01%01%
B. High Latitudes
Active40%40%30%
Minor storm10%10%10%
Major-severe storm01%01%01%

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