Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity 6 March 2012
Solar activity is expected to be moderate. Additional M-class events from Region 1429 are likely. There is also a chance for a major flare and/or proton producing event from Region 1429 during the next three days (07-09 March).
:Product: Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity
:Issued: 2012 Mar 06 2200 UTC
# Prepared jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,
# Space Weather Prediction Center and the U.S. Air Force.
#
Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity
SDF Number 066 Issued at 2200Z on 06 Mar 2012
IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 05/2100Z to 06/2100Z: Solar activity was high. There were five M-class x-ray events during the past 24 hours, all from Region 1429 (N17E31). The largest event was an M2/1n 06/1241Z. None of these events was associated with a CME that would be expected to be geoeffective. Region 1429 dominates the disk in area (about 1010 millionths), and exhibited growth during the period. The trailer portion showed the most development but has separated a bit from the main cluster of spots. The central portion is magnetically complex and shows multiple deltas as well as strong shear along a pair of east-west polarity inversion lines. Region 1428 (S17E08) also showed some growth during the period (area of 280 millionths) but is simple magnetically and was relatively quiet.
IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be moderate. Additional M-class events from Region 1429 are likely. There is also a chance for a major flare and/or proton producing event from Region 1429 during the next three days (07-09 March).
IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 05/2100Z to 06/2100Z: The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to active levels with isolated minor storm periods at high latitudes. ACE solar wind measurements of the interplanetary magnetic field showed steady strengthening during the period and there were numerous intervals of weakly southward Bz. The greater than 10 MeV proton enhancement continued throughout the period and reached a peak value of 4 PFU at 06/1335Z. The flux appeared to be on a slow declining trend at the end of the period. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels during the period.
IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected to be unsettled to active with a chance for minor storm periods during the next 24 hours (07 March). The increase in activity is expected due to combined effects from a co-rotating interaction region with the CME that occurred on 04 March (associated with the M2 x-ray event). Later in the day additional effects are expected due to a glancing blow from the full halo CME associated with the X1 x-ray event that occurred on 05 March. Predominantly unsettled levels with a chance for active periods are expected for the second day (08 March) as effects from the anticipated disturbance should diminish. Predominantly quiet levels are expected for the third day (09 March).
III. Event Probabilities 07 Mar-09 Mar
Class M 80/80/80
Class X 30/30/30
Proton 30/30/30
PCAF green
IV. Penticton 10.7 cm Flux
Observed 06 Mar 138
Predicted 07 Mar-09 Mar 140/140/135
90 Day Mean 06 Mar 125
V. Geomagnetic A Indices
Observed Afr/Ap 05 Mar 011/009
Estimated Afr/Ap 06 Mar 009/009
Predicted Afr/Ap 07 Mar-09 Mar 013/020-010/015-006/007
VI. Geomagnetic Activity Probabilities 07 Mar-09 Mar
A. Middle Latitudes
Active 30/20/05
Minor storm 10/10/01
Major-severe storm 01/01/01
B. High Latitudes
Active 15/15/15
Minor storm 35/15/10
Major-severe storm 40/10/05
