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Increased solar activity continues, Region 2297 crackling with solar flares

increased-solar-activity-continues-region-2297-crackling-with-solar-flares

Region 2297, currently the only numbered sunspot region on the Earth side of the Sun, is crackling with solar flares for the fifth day in a row. 

After 3 low level M-class flares on March 5 and 6, a long duration M9.2 on March 7 and impulsive M4.5 at 14:33 UTC on March 9 this region produced two more strong solar flares (long duration M5.8 and impulsive M5.1).

The first one reached M5.8 (R2-Moderate radio blackout) at its peak time on March 9. It started at 23:29, peaked at 23:53 and ended at 00:12 UTC on March 10. 

A Type II (estimated velocity 967 km/s) and Type IV radio emissions were associated with the event. Type IV emissions occur in association with major eruptions on the Sun and are typically associated with strong Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and solar radiation storms.

Additionally, a 10cm Radio Burst lasting 17 minutes, with peak flux of 550 sfu was associated with the event. A 10cm radio burst indicates that the electromagnetic burst associated with a solar flare at the 10cm wavelength was double or greater than the initial 10cm radio background. This can be indicative of significant radio noise in association with a solar flare. This noise is generally short-lived but can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications.

Space Weather Message Code: SUMXM5
Serial Number: 136
Issue Time: 2015 Mar 10 0017 UTC

SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded M5
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 09 2329 UTC
Maximum Time: 2015 Mar 09 2353 UTC
End Time: 2015 Mar 10 0012 UTC
X-ray Class: M5.8
Optical Class: 2n
Location: S16E39
NOAA Scale: R2 - Moderate

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact centered primarily on sub-solar point on the sunlit side of Earth.
Radio - Limited blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for tens of minutes.
Space Weather Message Code: ALTTP2
Serial Number: 997
Issue Time: 2015 Mar 10 0056 UTC

ALERT: Type II Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 10 0005 UTC
Estimated Velocity: 967 km/s

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Description: Type II emissions occur in association with eruptions on the sun and typically indicate a coronal mass ejection is associated with a flare event.
Space Weather Message Code: ALTTP4
Serial Number: 495
Issue Time: 2015 Mar 10 0021 UTC

ALERT: Type IV Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 09 2346 UTC

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Description: Type IV emissions occur in association with major eruptions on the sun and are typically associated with strong coronal mass ejections and solar radiation storms.
Space Weather Message Code: SUM10R
Serial Number: 655
Issue Time: 2015 Mar 10 0055 UTC

SUMMARY: 10cm Radio Burst
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 10 0009 UTC
Maximum Time: 2015 Mar 10 0012 UTC
End Time: 2015 Mar 10 0026 UTC
Duration: 17 minutes
Peak Flux: 550 sfu
Latest Penticton Noon Flux: 123 sfu

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Description: A 10cm radio burst indicates that the electromagnetic burst associated with a solar flare at the 10cm wavelength was double or greater than the initial 10cm radio background. This can be indicative of significant radio noise in association with a solar flare. This noise is generally short-lived but can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications.

The second solar flare reached M5.1 (R2-Moderate) at 03:24 UTC on March 10. It started at 03:19 and ended at 03:28 UTC.

A Type IV radio emission was associated as well as 10cm Radio Burst lasting 1 minute (peak flux 130 sfu).

Space Weather Message Code: SUMXM5
Serial Number: 137
Issue Time: 2015 Mar 10 0333 UTC

SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded M5
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 10 0319 UTC
Maximum Time: 2015 Mar 10 0324 UTC
End Time: 2015 Mar 10 0328 UTC
X-ray Class: M5.1
Optical Class: 2b
Location: S15E40
NOAA Scale: R2 - Moderate

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact centered primarily on sub-solar point on the sunlit side of Earth.
Radio - Limited blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for tens of minutes.
Space Weather Message Code: ALTTP4
Serial Number: 496
Issue Time: 2015 Mar 10 0343 UTC

ALERT: Type IV Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 10 0326 UTC

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Description: Type IV emissions occur in association with major eruptions on the sun and are typically associated with strong coronal mass ejections and solar radiation storms.
Space Weather Message Code: SUM10R
Serial Number: 656
Issue Time: 2015 Mar 10 0342 UTC

SUMMARY: 10cm Radio Burst
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 10 0321 UTC
Maximum Time: 2015 Mar 10 0321 UTC
End Time: 2015 Mar 10 0321 UTC
Duration: 1 minutes
Peak Flux: 130 sfu
Latest Penticton Noon Flux: 123 sfu

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Description: A 10cm radio burst indicates that the electromagnetic burst associated with a solar flare at the 10cm wavelength was double or greater than the initial 10cm radio background. This can be indicative of significant radio noise in association with a solar flare. This noise is generally short-lived but can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications.

Based on the current location of Region 2297, the trajectory of CMEs would not likely be on a Sun-Earth line.

Update:

CME associated with the M4 flare at 14:33 UTC on March 9, was first observed in LASCO C2 imagery at 15:12 UTC, but appeared to have the majority of the ejecta traveling away from the Sun-Earth line.  CME, associated with the C9 flare at 17:42 UTC on March 9, was first observed in LASCO C2 imagery at 18:00 UTC. It, too appeared to be too far east to have an impact at Earth.

CME associated with the M5 flare which peaked at 23:53 UTC on March 9, was first observed in LASCO C2 imagery at 00:36 UTC on March 10 and appeared as an asymmetric full-halo CME  [partial-halo CME] 

CME associated with the M5 flare at 03:24 UTC today, was first visible in LASCO C2 imagery at 03:36 UTC, and it, too produced an asymmetric full-halo CME [partial-halo CME] .

Detailed analysis of all of the CMEs was hindered, due to the tardiness of the LASCO coronagraph imagery.

However, now that imagery is available, a full, detailed analysis will be conducted to determine what impacts, if any, these CMEs will have on Earth, SWPC said in their Forecast Discussion issued 12:30 UTC today.

Update #2:

Analysis of the two M5 events was completed upon availability of delayed LASCO data. It appears that a combined impact of these transients may occur in the form of a glancing blow, mid to late March 12, with a passage expecting to last 24 – 36 hours at lower velocities.

Featured image: NASA SDO/AIA 304 at 23:41 UTC on March 9, 2015.

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One Comment

  1. The coronal hole in the second blue image of the sun has a triangular shape…if this image is rotated, it will match perfectly an artefact found by the mexican goverment , explained by Nassim Haramein, showing alien intervention , displaying some kind of shield to protect earth from a massive killshot-type of CMI….this ancient prophecy engraved in stone along Ed Dames warning is just a heads up…( no fear!)

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