Status Report

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity 21 Mar 2005

By SpaceRef Editor

March 22, 2005

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

Prepared jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,
Space Environment Center and the U.S. Air Force.
Updated 2005 Mar 21 2210 UTC

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity
SDF Number 080 Issued at 2200Z on 21 Mar 2005

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 20/2100Z
to 21/2100Z: Solar activity was at low levels today. Newly numbered
Region 745 (N12E54) produced the only C-class flare recorded this
period, a C2 event that occurred at 20/1547 UTC. This active region
currently appears to be a simply structured magnetic BXO beta group.
Region 743 (S08W84) appears to be in decay as the spot cluster
begins to exit the solar west limb. Region 744 (S12W13) underwent
growth in the sunspot area and appeared fairly quiescent throughout
the period.

IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be at
low levels.

IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 20/2100Z to 21/2100Z:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. A weak coronal
hole high speed stream appears to have passed the ACE spacecraft at
approximately 21/0800 UTC with maximum solar wind speeds reaching
650 km/s at approximately 20/0900 UTC. Following two hours of a
sustained southward Bz, a brief geoeffective period of active
conditions occurred between 20/1200 and 1500 UTC.

IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is
expected to be at predominantly quiet to unsettled levels. A solar
sector boundary crossing is expected to produce isolated active
conditions on 22 March. Isolated active conditions should persist
through 23 and 24 March due to a coronal hole high speed stream.

III. Event Probabilities 22 Mar-24 Mar