Status Report

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity 20 Aug 2006

By SpaceRef Editor

August 20, 2006

Filed under Earth, Space Weather Prediction Center (NOAA), Space Weather Solar-Geophysical Activity, US

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity 20 Aug 2006 — http://images.spaceref.com/news/sun.3.jpg

Product: Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity
Issued: 2006 Aug 20 2218 UTC
Prepared jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,
Space Environment Center and the U.S. Air Force.

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity
SDF Number 232 Issued at 2200Z on 20 Aug 2006

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 19/2100Z to 20/2100Z: Solar activity was low. Region 904 (S14W72) produced multiple B-class and C-class flares including a C2.9 flare at 20/1632Z. This region also produced a long duration C-class flare with maximum occurring at 20/1346Z, An associated CME was observed on the southwest limb in LASCO imagery at 20/1442Z. The plane-of-sky speed was estimated to be 300 km/s.

IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be low with the possibility of an isolated M-class flare from Region 904.

IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 19/2100Z to 20/2100Z: The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to major storm levels. There was a period of severe storm levels from 1200 – 1800Z recorded on the College, AK magnetometer. This activity is likely due to the full halo CME observed on 16 August.

IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled for the forecast period, 21 – 23 August. Due to the relatively slow speed of the CME mentioned above, no effects are anticipated during this forecast period.

III. Event Probabilities 21 Aug-23 Aug