NOAA SEC Space Weather Outlook #01-10 12 Mar 2001

Official Space Weather Advisory issued by NOAA Space Environment Center
Boulder, Colorado, USA

SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK #01- 10

2001 March 12 at 10:34 p.m. MST (2001 March 13 0534 UT)

**** SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK ****

Summary For March 5-11

Space weather increased to moderate levels. Two short-duration category
R2 (moderate) radio blackouts occurred due to solar flares. The first
peaked at 4:18 a.m. MST on March 8 (08/1118 UTC); the second peaked at
9:05 p.m. MST on March 9 (10/0405 UTC). Category R2 blackouts are
commonly associated with the following system effects on the sunlit
side of the Earth: limited blackout of high-frequency radio
communication resulting in loss of radio contact for tens of minutes
and degradation of low-frequency navigation signals for tens of
minutes. A brief category G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm occurred on
March 5 due to increased solar wind speeds associated with a coronal
hole. Category G1 geomagnetic storms typically result in the following
system effects: minor impacts on power systems and satellite
operations. In addition, aurora is commonly visible at higher latitudes
(northern Michigan and Alaska), and migratory animals are affected at
this and higher levels of geomagnetic storm activity.

Outlook For March 14-20

Space weather is expected to be at minor levels. There will be a fair
chance for an isolated category R1 (minor) radio blackout. Should an R1
blackout occur, expect brief degradation of high-frequency radio
communication and low-frequency navigation signals on the sunlit side
of Earth.

Data used to provide space weather services are contributed by NOAA,
USAF, NASA, NSF, USGS, the International Space Environment Services
and other observatories, universities, and institutions. More
information is available at SEC’s Web site http://sec.noaa.gov or
(303) 497-5127. The NOAA Public Affairs contact is Barbara McGehan
at bmcgehan@boulder.noaa.gov or (303) 497-6288.