Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Hansgen (K8RAT), for sharing the latest forecast from Tamitha Skov:
Video: Tamitha Skov give us “A Peek into the New Cycle”
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Category Archives: Space Weather
Space Weather: A [big] Hole in the Sun’s Atmosphere
The SWLing Post Blog has recently featured a few posts on “Space Weather” & Geomagnetic Storms. As an amateur astronomer, I receive many daily space-related emails in my INBOX right along with the SWLing Post Daily Digest. I thought this might be of interest:
From Spaceweather.com
An unusually wide hole in the sun’s atmosphere is facing Earth and spewing a stream of solar wind toward our planet. Estimated time of arrival: April 9th. Polar geomagnetic unrest and minor G1-class storms are possible when the gaseous material reaches Earth. Visit Spaceweather.com for more information and updates.
Image credit: NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.
The hole bisects half the solar disk, stretching more than 700,000 km from end to end. This means Earth will be under the influence of the emerging solar wind stream for more than 4 days after it arrives.
A G1-class storm is “Minor”, so I doubt there will be very much “radio” impact – but you gotta admit, a hole that large is interesting nonetheless!
Posted by SWLing Post Contributor Troy Riedel
Vernal equinox ‘cracks’ in Earth’s magnetic field
Credit: NOAA SWPC
(Source: Southgate ARC)
Equinox ‘cracks’ forming in Earth’s magnetic field
The vernal equinox is less than 10 days away. That means one thing: Cracks are opening in Earth’s magnetic field.
The seasonal phenomenon is known as the “Russell-McPherron effect,” named after the researchers who first explained it more than 40 years ago.
These “equinox cracks” are causing geomagnetic activity and bright auroras around the Arctic Circle even without strong solar activity.
Visit today’s edition of Spaceweather.com for the full story.
Video: CME’s and Solar Energetic Particles
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, TomL, who writes:
Regarding the last couple of posts recently about what affects Space Weather (and HF radio communications), this talk last week from Solar scientist Joan Burkepile of the High Altitude Observatory discusses what causes Radiation storms from Coronal Mass Ejections. She makes it interesting from a physics point of view. And as we understand the sun better, we also learn more about how the rest of the universe behaves.
Thanks for sharing this, Tom!
Solar Minimum: A “relatively large” sunspot makes appearance
(Image: spaceweather.com)
(Source: Southgate ARC)
With Solar Minimum right around the corner, sunspot counts are at an almost 10-year low. So it came as a surprise yesterday when a relatively large sunspot emerged near the sun’s eastern limb.
AR2699 has a primary dark core larger than Earth with many smaller magnetic condensations trailing behind it, in all stretching more than 75,000 km across the sun’s surface.
Rare “solar minimum sunspots” are capable of intense explosions just like sunspots during more active phases of the solar cycle.
Visit Spaceweather.com for more information and updates.
Geomagnetic Storm Predicted (G2-Class)
Credit: NOAA SWPC
Per spaceweather.com & NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC):
“A high-speed stream of solar wind is approaching Earth, and NOAA forecasters say there is a 75% chance of polar geomagnetic storms when it arrives during the late hours of Dec. 4th. Periods of moderately-strong G2-class storming on Dec. 4th and 5th could send Northern Lights spilling across the Canadian border into upper-tier US states; affect shortwave radio transmissions at high latitudes; and confuse wildlife that use magnetic cues for navigation.”
The SWPC forecasts G-2 conditions starting at 2100 UT on 04 Dec and lasting through 06 UT on 05 Dec.
Though there is only a 1% chance of this G-2 causing a “radio blackout”, shortwave transmissions at higher latitudes will be affected.
You can subscribe to the SWPC to receive daily forecasts emailed to your INBOX at the following NOAA site:
https://pss.swpc.noaa.gov/RegistrationForm.aspx
Troy Riedel, is the author of this post and a regular contributor to the SWLing Post. Check out Troy’s YouTube Channel by clicking here.
The 1770 solar storm that turned the skies red for a week
(Source: Wired UK via Mark Hirst)
Records kept by people living in Korea, China and Japan in 1770 have revealed evidence for the longest geomagnetic storm in recorded history
Almost 250 years ago, for over two weeks, the skies above parts of Asia lit up in what looked like a burst of fiery red. Those who saw the strange phenomenon kept notes of the event, and now it has been identified as potentially the longest geomagnetic storm ever recorded.
A dim red sky reported to have been observed between the September 16 to 18, 1770 in East Asia was considered one of history’s greatest geomagnetic storms. But now, new materials have come to light suggesting the storm lasted much longer, for nine nights, and covered an area twice as large as originally thought.
A group of Japanese scientists led by Hisashi Hayakawa from Osaka University studied hundreds of historical records dating between September and October 1770, including government records and people’s personal diaries. Using these records, they were able to piece together what happened during the event, and link this to sunspot drawings from the time.[…]
Thanks for the tip, Mark–fascinating!
Of course, I’ve read in-depth information about the Carrington Event, but was completely unaware of the 1770 event. I’ve always said the biggest EMP threat will come from our local star. Frankly, it’s just a matter of time. I hope we’re ready!