Solar Activity Report for 9/5/03
- After languishing in the mid-500 km/sec range, the solar wind speed
suddenly spiked at well over 600 km/sec on Thursday, and remains over
600 this evening. However, geomagnetic activity has been minimal due
to a persistent north-pointing Interplanetary Magnetic Field. The
elevated solar wind speeds are expected to last another day before
slowing down. After that, there will be about a three day period
before the western part of the current coronal hole comples rotates
into an Earth-pointing position, and the solar wind speeds will rise
again. Solar activity is low, and none of the four numbered sunspot
regions visible appear to have any significant flare-generating
potential at this time.
The current solar and geomagnetic conditions are :
NOAA sunspot number : 57
SFI : 108
A index : 14
K index : 3
Solar wind speed : 619.6
Solar wind density : 1.0 protons/cc
Solar wind pressure : 0.7 nPa
IMF : 4.7 nT
IMF Orientation : 3.5 nT North
Conditions for the last 24 hours :
No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours.
Forecast for the next 24 hours :
No space weather storms are expected for the next 24 hours.
Solar activity forecast :
Solar activity is expected to continue at low levels. Occasional low
C-class flares are likely from Region 453.
Geomagnetic activity forecast :
The geomagnetic field is expected to be at predominantly unsettled to
active levels through day one as the current high speed stream
subsides. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected on day two before the
onset of a recurrent coronal hole on day three. Expect occasional
active periods as this coronal hole moves into a geoeffective position.
Recent significant solar flare activity :