Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/07/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]...for monster solar flares that cause auroral displays much further north and south of the polar regions than is typical. The one that popped earlier today (see below) was an X-6 class flare, real wrath o' God stuff. Bollixed my shortwave reception like I'd switched off the radio. Might put on quite a show late Saturday night. Chuck Albertson Seattle, Wash. ***************************************************************** SPACE WEATHER BULLETIN #00- 10 2000 July 14 at 10:14 a.m. MDT (2000 July 14 1614 UT) **** RADIATION STORM OCCURS , MAGNETIC STORM PREDICTED **** A large, complex sunspot group has produced one of the largest solar flares and associated radiation storms seen in recent years. The flare peaked at 4:24 a.m. MDT (1024 UTC) on July 14 and resulted in a radio blackout that reached R3 (strong) levels and a solar radiation storm that reached S3 (strong) levels. The solar radiation storm, which continues at the time of this advisory, is the largest observed since October, 1989. Images from NASA's SOHO/LASCO spacecraft showed that a large, fast-moving coronal mass ejection (CME) followed the flare and is headed Earthward. NOAA space weather forecasters predict that the CME will impact the Earth's magnetic field on Saturday afternoon and will cause a geomagnetic storm that is expected to reach category G3 (strong) to G4 (severe) levels. The radiation and geomagnetic storms are expected to produce adverse effects on spacecraft operations, power systems, high-frequency radio communications, and low-frequency navigation signals. In addition, the geomagnetic storm is expected to produce aurora displays that will be visible over much of the U.S. The sunspot group responsible for this event will be visible from Earth until it crosses the Sun's west limb on July 21 and more space weather storms are possible until that time.