BajaNomad

SOLAR FLARE

bajaguy - 2-16-2011 at 03:48 PM

Actually, this is for real.............

UNCLASSIFIED

INFORMATION REQUESTED:
As the result of a Solar Flare and Coronal Mass Ejection(CME) two plasma clouds are heading toward the Earth.

These plasma clouds have the potential to cause some level of geomagnetic storming during the next 12 to 60 hours. The
National Coordinating Center(NCC) is requesting information on any issues/unmet needs to impacts to the induced
currents of electrical networks, communications infrastructure, or service due to the reported solar flare during the next 12-72 hours.

INCIDENT:

Earth-orbiting satellites have detected the strongest solar flare in more than four years. At 0156 UT on Feb. 15th, giant
sunspot 1158 unleashed an X2-class eruption. X-flares are the strongest type of x-ray flares, and this is the first such
eruption of new Solar Cycle 24.

The explosion that produced the flare also sent a solar tsunami rippling through the sun's atmosphere and, more importantly, hurled a coronal mass ejection toward Earth.

This raises the possibility of geomagnetic storms in the days ahead.

KNOWN CAUSE:

Solar Flare and Coronal Mass Ejection(CME)

DURATION:

12-72 hours

CURRENT ACTIONS:

The NCC Watch will continue to monitor the situation for impact to communications infrastructure and service. The NCC
Watch will follow up on Friday, 18 February 2011 by 2000 EST, with an NCC Watch Advisory summarizing all reported
feedbacks.

shari - 2-16-2011 at 03:50 PM

hmmmm.....wha??? could that be part of the strange santa anna wind conditions here the last 2 days?? wonder what we're in for...tick tick tick

mcfez - 2-16-2011 at 03:53 PM

Good by. Wish I could had meant you all.

David K - 2-16-2011 at 03:54 PM

Hope those aboard the space station are safe! If the nights are clear, we may see the 'Northern Lights' down south...

BajaRat - 2-16-2011 at 04:08 PM

Looks like a good time to dig out your foil hats.
If you would like more info go to spaceweather.com

gnukid - 2-16-2011 at 04:40 PM

If you are interested in solar flares, solar cycles and earth orbit cycles, how these are predictable, how they affect climate and weather, I found this site to be quite interesting about the Sun and Milankovitch Cycles.

http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/cli_sun.html

In addition to a multitude of factors that affect the climate:

"About every 11 years the number of sunspots reaches a high and then decreases again."

and

"There are three ways that Earth's orbit changes over time.

Eccentricity: The shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun becomes slightly more and then less oval every 100,000 years.

Precession: Earth wobbles on it axis as it spins, completing a full wobble every 23,000 years.

Tilt: The angle of the Earth's axis relative to the plane of its orbit changes about three degrees every 41,000 years."

[Edited on 2-17-2011 by gnukid]

wessongroup - 2-16-2011 at 04:47 PM

Here's a shot of what it looks like... Skelator can't be far behind..




[Edited on 2-16-2011 by wessongroup]

Howard - 2-16-2011 at 05:20 PM

Now for the important question.

Will my taping of Judge Judy be affected? (or is effected?)

Further, farther, I never could figure that stuff out. I even saw that movie with Sean Connery as a Pulitzer prize winner when they explained it and I still am confused. Oh well, as long as I can watch my Judge Judy when I get home.

Russ...Russ...Ru----ssssss Help us

mcfez - 2-16-2011 at 06:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaRat
Looks like a good time to dig out your foil hats.
If you would like more info go to spaceweather.com


You claimed to have extras.....who shall you save? :lol:

Affect and Effect

MrBillM - 2-16-2011 at 06:42 PM

Affect=Cause. Effect=Result.

Paulina - 2-16-2011 at 08:49 PM

So will Friday be a good day to work on my tan?


P>*)))>{

Von - 2-16-2011 at 11:12 PM

Well I did want to retire in baja~ DAM!

redhilltown - 2-17-2011 at 12:20 AM

I-by sheer luck-happened to be in Saline Valley, CA about ten years ago when the radiation (or...you know) of one of these flares hit the earth's atmosphere at night. It was the most stunning, surreal, and memorable experience of my camping career. The sky was literally on fire in the middle of the night and a light show that went on for hours...I forget the scientific name for the event but this news makes me want to pack up the truck and head to the darkest spot I can find. Will be interesting to see if reports come in from Nomads.

mcfez - 2-17-2011 at 07:50 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by redhilltown
I-by sheer luck-happened to be in Saline Valley, CA about ten years ago when the radiation (or...you know) of one of these flares hit the earth's atmosphere at night. It was the most stunning, surreal, and memorable experience of my camping career. The sky was literally on fire in the middle of the night and a light show that went on for hours...I forget the scientific name for the event but this news makes me want to pack up the truck and head to the darkest spot I can find. Will be interesting to see if reports come in from Nomads.


This effect shows at night?
Then I need to get up to Bridgeport Ca to see the show.

wilderone - 2-17-2011 at 08:38 AM

May be seen in northern latitudes:

"The largest solar flare to erupt on the sun since December 2006 has sent plasma streaming toward Earth, a usually benign but sometimes troublesome phenomenon that's being monitored by a sophisticated satellite instrument developed by UC San Diego.

Such flares can disrupt telecommunications on Earth, in addition to setting off the wondrous aurora borealis.

"The plasma from the flare contains ionized particles that could cause an aurora borealis in the northern latitudes," said Bernard Jackson, a research scientist at UCSD's Center for Astrophysics and Space Science. "The plasma should hit Earth's magnetosphere on Thursday."

redhilltown - 2-17-2011 at 10:40 AM

This is the same event I was referring to:

http://www.prairiejournal.com/northern_lights/033001.htm

Though further north, his photos give a great idea of what may happen again. In this event the lights could be seen as far south as Joshua Tree, CA.

No matter what if you are in a dark area and north-ish I would keep an eye out after the sun goes down!

Update on Solar Flare

bajaguy - 2-17-2011 at 11:31 AM

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have identified a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) which are en route to Earth from a sunspot which will buffet the Earth's magnetic field during the next 12 to 60 hours.

These CMEs are a result of the strongest solar flare in more than four years, which peaked on Feb. 15 and registered as an X-flare. X-flares are the strongest type of solar flare.

NOAA forecasters estimate a 45% chance of geomagnetic activity today.

Geomagnetic storms usually last 24 to 48 hours, but some may last for many days.

They also have the capability of disrupting communications systems, navigation systems and electric grids.

TV and commercial radio stations are usually not affected by this type of solar activity; however, ground-to-air, ship-to-shore, shortwave broadcasts, and amateur radio are vulnerable to disruption during geomagnetic storms.

Navigation systems like GPS can also be adversely affected.

Some of the worst geomagnetic storms have the potential to knock out power grids by inducing currents that melt transformers.

Your mileage may vary............

shari - 2-17-2011 at 07:10 PM

hmmm my magic jack just went down...7:00 mountain time...anybody else's magic jack on the blink??