Geomagnetic Storm In Progress
Official Space Weather Advisory issued by NOAA Space Environment Center Boulder, Colorado, USA
SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY BULLETIN #06- 5 2006 December 14 at 10:04 a.m. MST (2006 December 14 1704 UTC)
GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS
A geomagnetic storm began on December 14 at 1416 UTC (9:16 A.M. EST). A solar flare on 13 December at 0240 UTC (12 December, 9:40 P.M. EST) from NOAA Region 930 produced strong radio blackouts (R3) and an associated moderate (S2) solar radiation storm. A large Earth-directed coronal mass ejection was also observed with this event, producing today’s geomagnetic storming. Strong to severe (G3 – G4) geomagnetic storming is expected to last through 15 December.
Region 930 is a large sunspot group which is still rotating across the visible disk. Because of the current position of Region 930, additional activity has greater potential to quickly impact Earth. Agencies impacted by space weather storms should continue to closely monitor space weather conditions during the next four days.
Data used to provide space weather services are contributed by NOAA, US Air Force, NASA, National Science Foundation, US Geological Survey, the International Space Environment Services and other observatories, universities, and institutions. More information is available at SEC’s Web site http://sec.noaa.gov
Notes:
G4 Severe Geomagnetic Storm implies:
G3 Strong Geomagnetic Storm Implies:
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SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY BULLETIN #06- 5 2006 December 14 at 10:04 a.m. MST (2006 December 14 1704 UTC)
GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS
A geomagnetic storm began on December 14 at 1416 UTC (9:16 A.M. EST). A solar flare on 13 December at 0240 UTC (12 December, 9:40 P.M. EST) from NOAA Region 930 produced strong radio blackouts (R3) and an associated moderate (S2) solar radiation storm. A large Earth-directed coronal mass ejection was also observed with this event, producing today’s geomagnetic storming. Strong to severe (G3 – G4) geomagnetic storming is expected to last through 15 December.
Region 930 is a large sunspot group which is still rotating across the visible disk. Because of the current position of Region 930, additional activity has greater potential to quickly impact Earth. Agencies impacted by space weather storms should continue to closely monitor space weather conditions during the next four days.
Data used to provide space weather services are contributed by NOAA, US Air Force, NASA, National Science Foundation, US Geological Survey, the International Space Environment Services and other observatories, universities, and institutions. More information is available at SEC’s Web site http://sec.noaa.gov
Notes:
G4 Severe Geomagnetic Storm implies:
- Power systems: possible widespread voltage control problems and some protective systems will mistakenly trip out key assets from the grid.
- Spacecraft operations: may experience surface charging and tracking problems, corrections may be needed for orientation problems.
- Other systems: induced pipeline currents affect preventive measures, HF radio propagation sporadic, satellite navigation degraded for hours, low-frequency radio navigation disrupted, and aurora has been seen as low as Alabama and northern California (typically 45 degreesĖ geomagnetic lat.)
G3 Strong Geomagnetic Storm Implies:
- Power systems: voltage corrections may be required, false alarms triggered on some protection devices.
- Spacecraft operations: surface charging may occur on satellite components, drag may increase on low-Earth-orbit satellites, and corrections may be needed for orientation problems.
- Other systems: intermittent satellite navigation and low-frequency radio navigation problems may occur, HF radio may be intermittent, and aurora has been seen as low as Illinois and Oregon (typically 50 degreesĖ geomagnetic lat.)
- a wide area blackout of HF (High Frequency) radio communication, with a loss of radio contact for about an hour on sunlit side of Earth.
- low-frequency navigation signals are degraded for about an hour.
- passengers and crew in high-flying aircraft at high latitudes may be exposed to elevated radiation risk.
- infrequent single-event upsets of satellite operations are possible.
- small effects on HF propagation through the polar regions, and navigation at polar cap locations are possibly affected.
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