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.
Space weather notifications
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Aurora forecasts
Northern Hemisphere
No significant enhancements to the auroral oval are expected during the period.
Southern Hemisphere
No significant enhancements to the auroral oval are expected during the period.
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Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: No significant activity
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Low with only one common class flare observed from just over the southeast limb. There are seven sunspot regions on the disc, and while they remain small and simple, slow growth is evident across the disc. The largest region is a benign mature unipolar spot.
A number of CMEs (coronal mass ejections) were observed leaving the Sun, however
these are all missing Earth, originating from around the solar limbs or
from the far-side.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: A waning high speed stream was observed, due to Earth gradually leaving the faster solar winds from a coronal hole. The solar wind speed was initially slightly elevated, at 450km/s, but rapidly increased to be elevated at near 550km/s around 04/1710UTC, then easing to slightly elevated at around 450 km/s again by 04/2100 UTC. Solar winds then eased to near 400km/s by the end of the period. Total Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) strength was Moderate with the north-south component mainly moderately negative (southward) with brief periods of positive (northward). Geomagnetic activity was Quiet to Unsettled (Kp2-3).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) was at background levels with no solar radiation storms observed.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Low to Very Low activity is expected, with a slight chance of isolated M-flares. This chance increasing slightly through the period with any further development, or new regions rotating onto the Earth-facing Sun.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: No Earth-directed CMEs. Solar winds are expected to gradually ease to background days 1-3 (05-07 Apr). A further weak coronal hole enhancement is possible day 4 (08 Apr) however this is unlikely to be significant, with winds perhaps rising to be slightly elevated for a time. Geomagnetic activity is forecast to be Quiet with Unsettled spells day 1 (05 Apr), with a decreasing chance of Active intervals. Mainly Quiet activity is expected through Days 2-4 (06-08) but with a chance of Unsettled to Active intervals day 4 (08 Apr).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) is expected to remain at background levels.
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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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