Geomagnetic storm in progress (April 20, 2011)
Geomagnetic storm is in progress. K index showing level 5.
Solar wind
speed: 548.7 km/sec
density: 1.9 protons/cm3
Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 5 storm
24-hr max: Kp= 5 storm
The K-index is a code that is related to the maximum fluctuations of horizontal components observed on a magnetometer relative to a quiet day, during a three-hour interval. The conversion table from maximum fluctuation (nT) to K-index, varies from observatory to observatory in such a way that the historical rate of occurrence of certain levels of K are about the same at all observatories. In practice this means that observatories at higher geomagnetic latitude require higher levels of fluctuation for a given K-index.
Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 5.0 nT
Bz: 4.8 nT north
A new Sunspot was numbered on Tuesday and was numbered 1195. It rotated into view on the southeast limb and produced only B-Class activity.
Big sunspot 1193 continues to transit the northern hemisphere and there is about a 15% chance of producing M-Class flares. Any explosions at this point could be earth directed because of its central location.
Sunspot 1190 is rotating onto the western limb and will soon be out of direct earth view.
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