SPACEWEATHER update

CME IMPACT--NOW: NASA's ACE spacecraft, which measures the speed of the solar wind just upstream of Earth, indicates that a CME impact on our planet may be in progress. Stay tuned for updates.

Well, looks like the final 2 merged CME's are now buffeting the Magnetosphere.

Spaceweather

I'm trying to download the pics as they update for an animated gif later but the sites traffic has skyrocketed.



www2.nict.go.jp...

reply to post by lesisgod


I'm having a hard time interpreting the information on the website.. what does this mean for earth? what kind of impact is it going to have? when will we realize most of the effects?

nevermind, I did the research, it hit earth this morning at 6am eastern and guess what, NOTHING HAPPENED AND EVERYTHING IS FINE. yay!

Originally posted by Gwampo
reply to post by lesisgod

 

I'm having a hard time interpreting the information on the website.. what does this mean for earth? what kind of impact is it going to have? when will we realize most of the effects?

Yeah, someone who knows what they are talking about would be nice.

It's looks really scary, but is it going to be one of those things that get all of ATS whipped into a frenzy and not a darn thing happens..

Should I stick my head between my legs and kiss my tooshie goodbye..or..what?

The raw data can be seen here.
www.swpc.noaa.gov...
You can see the increase in the speed and density of the solar wind as the CME arrived at the ACE satellite.

Here is what the same data looks like when applied to the Magnetosphere Simulator.
www2.nict.go.jp...

To see the real effects of the CME, keep an eye on the magnetometers which record fluctuations in the Earth's magnetic field.
www.swpc.noaa.gov...
geomag.usgs.gov...
If they start going nuts it means there is a geomagnetic storm occurring. No, it's not the end of the world as we know it. There could be a nice auroral display in northern Europe. So far it doesn't look like much is going to happen though.

reply to post by Cyprex


Check the magnetosphere now, it's worse. There is white behind Earth, ahhhhh!

Originally posted by JaqueFresco
reply to post by Cyprex

 

Check the magnetosphere now, it's worse. There is white behind Earth, ahhhhh!

Worse than what?
You see something bad?

reply to post by Gwampo

Another simulation can be found here( last update 18:30 utc
iswa.gsfc.nasa.gov:8080...
If you want a bit more information on the ACE-satelite data of the magnetosphere
son.nasa.gov...

Phage

So far it doesn't look like much is going to happen though.

You mean no significant earthquakes are going to happen
I only see beautifull colors
going to check with my buddy in norway toninght, he is ready with his cam

reply to post by Phage


Worse than the picture at the top of this page. I really don't know what I'm talking about. It's just I've never seen white behind the Earth, via the real time magnetosphere site www2.nict.go.jp yadayada

It's amazingly cool that we have access to technology that enables the general public to watch and monitor our Sun in real-time. Solar Cycle 24 should be an exciting one to watch since scientists now say it could be a more active cycle then previously predicted. We've been lucky so far "dodging a solar bullet" but our luck won't last forever.

Even F.E.M.A. understands the threat from our Sun and is preparing for a MEGA Flare scenerio that could wipe out our electrical grids. Solar Storms Could Be Earth's Next Katrina.

On August 1, Earth-orbiting satellites detected a solar flare originating from an Earth-facing sunspot. This type of solar flare, known as a C-class, is relatively small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth besides auroras (often known as the Northern Lights). Beginning on Aug. 4, the effects from this flare will be visible as auroras in the northern latitudes of the United States from northern Michigan to Maine. On Aug. 5, the flare’s effects will be felt more strongly and could result in some radio and minor power grid fluctuations.
- 2010 ( exactly 1 year ago lol )

It is predicted that Solar Cycle 24 will peak in May 2013 with about 58 sunspots. This would make it the least active cycle since solar cycle 6, which ended in the year 1823. According to NASA, the intensity of geomagnetic storms during Solar Cycle 24 may be elevated in some areas where the Earth's magnetic field is weaker than expected. This fact was discovered by the THEMIS spacecraft in 2008. A 20-fold increase in particle counts that penetrate the Earth's magnetic field may be expected. ~ Solar Cycle 24

The furious storms won't start right away, however. Solar cycles usually take a few years to build to a frenzy and Cycle 24 will be no exception. "We still have some quiet times ahead," says Hathaway (2007).

Our electrical grids are very vulnerable to strong X-class and MEGA flares and F.E.M.A. thinks in some extreme cases it could take 10 years to restore electricity to effected areas!
10 years!? I guess the best way to prepare for something like that is to prepare as if you're going on a looong camping trip in a grizzly bear infested environment.

Hopefully, this solar "russian roulette" we're forced to play during this cycle falls in our favor and nothing catastrophic happens. We have a year and 8 months left before this cycle peaks. It's just getting warmed up.

The speed of the solar wind continues to increase but the density seems to be holding fairly steady. It was holding a south turn which would lead to geomagnetic activity but has now turned north which will stifle it.

reply to post by Gwampo


This mornings CME was the first of the three (3) this one is the merged 2nd and 3rd CME's from a couple of days ago.

Originally posted by JaqueFresco
reply to post by Phage

 

Worse than the picture at the top of this page. I really don't know what I'm talking about. It's just I've never seen white behind the Earth, via the real time magnetosphere site www2.nict.go.jp yadayada

Maybe because you just recently start checking that out?
It happens quite often and is nothing new to earth.

The magnetometers are reacting. Definite geomagnetic storming.
www.swpc.noaa.gov...
geomag.usgs.gov...

reply to post by Phage


OK Phage, layman's terms please.

Nice chance of catching Borealis at High Latitudes?

Chances of Black outs?

Toasting bread by holding it to the sky?

I just saw the last pressure image. Lots of white, and a white bubble inside what seems to be the magnetic field.

have the shields been breached captain??

reply to post by JakiusFogg

Europe has a real good chance of auroral displays. Depending on how long the storming lasts (until tonight?) North America as well.

It's a little soon to be sure but it does't look like blackouts are likely.

Don't worry about the pressure. The scale on the magnetosphere simulation tops out way too early. Of more interest would be the magnetic field line representation. The more "splayed" it looks, the more likely geomagnetic storming (and aurora).

K index of 5.
G1 storming.

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK05
Serial Number: 661
Issue Time: 2011 Aug 05 1922 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 5
Threshold Reached: 2011 Aug 05 1922 UTC
Synoptic Period: 1800-2100 UTC
Station: Boulder
Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G1 - Minor

www.swpc.noaa.gov...

reply to post by Phage


OK thanks!, a bit of a shame I really fancy some toast right now. Guess I will have to use the toaster instead!

POES Auroral activity website.
www.swpc.noaa.gov...
auroras are visible in yellow-orange region