Space Weather

Space Weather

Space weather describes changing environmental conditions in near-Earth space. Magnetic fields, radiation, particles and matter, which have been ejected from the Sun, can interact with the Earth’s upper atmosphere and surrounding magnetic field to produce a  variety of effects.

Image courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams

Space weather notifications

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Aurora forecasts

Northern Hemisphere

Background levels of geomagnetic activity are expected through the period, but some limited enhancement is possible at times due to expected connection to a high speed stream from coronal holes 08 or 09. Any visible auroral oval generally restricted to high latitudes, although viewing opportunities will be extremely limited due to the short period darkness at this time of year.

Southern Hemisphere

Background levels of geomagnetic activity are expected through the period, but some limited enhancement is possible at times due to expected connection to a high speed stream from coronal holes 08 or 09. Any visible auroral oval generally restricted to high latitudes.

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Forecast overview

Space Weather Forecast Headline: Occasional R1/R2 radio blackouts likely throughoutSlight chance of isolated Minor storm intervals.

Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours

Solar Activity: Solar activity has been Moderate, due to a Moderate-class flare from a complex region close to the eastern limb, which has only recently rotated onto the visible side of the Sun. This has been the most active region through the last 24 hours. Two further regions in the southwestern quadrant are also complex and pose a high risk of significant flares based on their arrangement, but have not produced notable recent activity. There are 11 sunspot regions on the disc in total, with the remaining regions all either weak, stable or fading. No Earth-directed CMEs (coronal mass ejections) were observed on available imagery during the period.

Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar winds have slowly risen from ambient to slightly elevated levels due to the connection of the Earth's magnetic field with a high speed solar wind. Total magnetic field strength was mainly weak, but briefly reached moderate levels due to this connection early on 01 June. The north-south component varied weakly, but reached a brief negative peak due to the onset of the high speed solar wind. Geomagnetic activity was Quiet to Unsettled, with one Active interval.

Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) is at background levels with no solar radiation storms observed.

Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary

Solar Activity: Solar activity is likely to be generally Moderate with a slight chance of High levels, due mainly to the activity from a complex region on the eastern limb, with possible contributions from two complex but apparently stable regions in the southwest quadrant.

Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity:  No Earth directed CMEs currently feature in the forecast. A high speed solar wind is currently affecting the Earth, with a further weak connection possible by 02 June. Due to the relative speeds of the two coronal holes, which may reach elevated speeds, the connection to a further source of fast solar winds may not be observed at Earth. The high speed winds may then start to decline later on 04 June. Geomagnetic activity is forecast to be mainly Quiet to Unsettled, with a risk of Active and a very slight chance of G1/Minor storms.

Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) is expected to be at background levels with solar radiation storms unlikely to occur. However, there is a slight chance of reaching the Minor Storm threshold should any larger flares occur.

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Solar imagery

SDO AIA-193

This channel highlights the outer atmosphere of the Sun - called the corona - as well as hot flare plasma. Hot active regions, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections will appear bright here. The dark areas - called coronal holes - are places where very little radiation is emitted, yet are the main source of solar wind particles.

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SDO AIA-304

This channel is especially good at showing areas where cooler dense plumes of plasma (filaments and prominences) are located above the visible surface of the Sun. Many of these features either can't be seen or appear as dark lines in the other channels. The bright areas show places where the plasma has a high density.

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