X2-FLARE AND RADIO BLACKOUT: Sunspot AR2297 has just unleashed a strong Earth-directed solar flare

[link to stereo.ssl.berkeley.edu]

Current Solar Activity

great find, OP. keep us posted!!

Thanks for alerting us ---> this explains why I've been feeling so severely drained of energy over the past hour...

:bunker:



Last Edited by Digital mix guy Spock on 03/11/2015 03:13 PM

Solarsoft-SDO close-up composite movie of X2 flare w/ ejecta:


[link to sdowww.lmsal.com]

GONG H-Alpha Network movie:

[link to halpha.nso.edu]

This sunspot region is growing in strength, size and magnetic instability today. I'll be surprised if we don't see more X-flares this week.

AR2297:

[link to www.solarham.net]

We may have another Earth-directed CME, but we're waiting for SOHO coronagraph updates.

Space Weather Message Code: SUMX01
Serial Number: 112
Issue Time: 2015 Mar 11 1710 UTC

SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded X1
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 11 1611 UTC
Maximum Time: 2015 Mar 11 1622 UTC
End Time: 2015 Mar 11 1629 UTC
X-ray Class: X2.1
Optical Class: 2b
Location: S17E23
NOAA Scale: R3 - Strong

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

Potential Impacts: Area of impact consists of large portions of the sunlit side of Earth, strongest at the sub-solar point.
Radio - Wide area blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for about an hour.

[link to www.swpc.noaa.gov]

Radio Blackout (D-Layer Absorption) Map:

[link to www.spaceweather.com]

When would a CME accompanying this be expected to arrive?

Id like to know as well. Guessing a day or two?

Typically 3-4 days, depending on the speed of course. These events are extremely difficult to predict. In fact NASA has a secret website for geeks to hone their CME arrival prediction skills and techniques:

[link to kauai.ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov]

Extreme events like the infamous Carrington Flare arrived in an amazing 18 hours!

As this sunspot rotates more towards Earth, the impacts could be strong in the next few days. Currently we have 2 or 3 'glancing blows' already on the way....

NOAA .24 hr Summary...

Preliminary LASCO C2 imagery indicated that of three recent transients,
the third CME, associated with the first M5 flare, was first observed in
LASCO C2 imagery at 10/0036 UTC and appeared as an asymmetric
partial-halo CME. The second M5 flare, was first visible in LASCO C2
imagery at 10/0336 UTC, and it, too produced an asymmetric [partial-halo
CME. Analysis of these 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 on day two (12 Mar),
with a passage expecting to last 24-36 hours at lower velocities.

[link to www.swpc.noaa.gov]

Aha so the faster the more dangerous as well, in relation to earth anyway..

Well, the speed is a factor, as well as the proton density and the electro-magnetic polarity (or Bz component). A 'perfect storm' would be a high-speed, high-density and negative polarity (Bz South) event. These factors are monitored by the ACE satellite, located about 1 million miles sunward from the Earth.

[link to www.solarham.net]

If you'd like to keep abreast of the latest info, we have a great team in place here at GLP's SOLAR WATCH:

Thread: SOLAR WATCH * Huge X8.2 Flare Sept. 10, 2017! (Updated Daily) (Page 2643)

:solardoombunke:

Much talk of doom over this, what if these flares do indeed disrupt radio waves, perhaps they have a positive effect on humans ?

Let's pray it takes CERN offline before the 20th, and little else.

[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]

bump for awareness.

please keep us updated about this...thanks!

Same here, solar flares do tend to wear on me. Makes me want to curl up in a dark, warm place and sleep the day away.

Like it was a dreary, rainy grey day.