3/17/2015 ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 8

[AD]

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK08
Serial Number: 19
Issue Time: 2015 Mar 17 1757 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 8
Threshold Reached: 2015 Mar 17 1754 UTC
Synoptic Period: 1500-1800 UTC

Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G4 - Severe

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 45 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.

Induced Currents - Possible widespread voltage control problems and some protective systems may mistakenly trip out key assets from the power grid. Induced pipeline currents intensify.

Spacecraft - Systems may experience surface charging; increased drag on low earth orbit satellites, and tracking and orientation problems may occur.

Navigation - Satellite navigation (GPS) degraded or inoperable for hours.

Radio - HF (high frequency) radio propagation sporadic or blacked out.

Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as Alabama and northern California

[AD]

NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) -
A geomagnetic storm that government scientists rate as severe hit the planet on Tuesday morning.

The storm rated as a G4 on a NOAA scale, which tops out at G5. It's the strongest storm that's happened in the current solar cycle, which lasts about 11 years.

The Space Weather Prediction Center says that the storm is from sun activity that started on March 15. Two magnetic eruptions occurred in quick succession. They combined into one larger eruption before intersecting the Earth's orbit on Tuesday.

The storm arrived earlier (10 a.m. EDT) and was stronger than predicted. The storm could last 24-36 hours.

It warned that there could be possible widespread voltage control problems at power systems and some protective systems could trip out key assets from the grid but that appeared to not be happening.

"We are receiving no reports of abnormality or disconnects on the power grid," NOAA's Tom Burger said at a Tuesday afternoon press briefing.

Spacecraft could also experience surface charging and tracking problems and corrections may be needed for orientation problems.

It warned that satellite navigation systems could be affected for hours and low-frequency radio navigation disrupted.

Read more here

http://www.myfoxny.com/story/28540300/powerful-space-storm-hits-earth

[AD]

Just missed us again. Watch this. The earth is the little dot to the right of the sun in the center. The CME is the bubble of "SS"(sun stuff) coming at us.

http://solarham.net/cmewatch2.htm

image.jpg

[dangerdan]

My days off filled with no HF propagation again .
The glacier in my driveway is receding slowly ,climate change (caused by the sun) .
The pesky ball of fire .


DD

[AD]

Try for the Aurora opening to EU via the pole

From Solarham.com


March 17, 2015 @ 17:40 UTC
VHF Aurora Opening Watch
Severe geomagnetic storming (KP=8) continues this afternoon. Sky watchers across Northern Europe, the UK and Scandinavia should experience brilliant aurora displays this evening. On the radio front, ham operators located at higher latitudes in Europe are now making VHF contacts via the AU. Radio operators located in the northern tier USA and Canada should have their antennas north and ready this evening local time. The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) continues to point south and is prolonging this major geomagnetic event.

[dangerdan]

Days off are over now ...over



DD

[doublel]

So...AD how big does one of these suckers need to be to do damage to our grid? Is this one that missed us big enough?

Just missed us again. Watch this. The earth is the little dot to the right of the sun in the center. The CME is the bubble of "SS"(sun stuff) coming at us.
http://solarham.net/cmewatch2.htm

[AD]

Sure it was big enough. It you watch the animation, you can see it just nicked us. If we would,have been front and center it could have been bad.

[W.Lynn]

AD is spot on, we're in a precarious position, as planets go, there's plenty happening all the time that comes this far out - and worse, that just misses because we weren't at that part of our orbit at the time. You can worry about it, or you can isolate your systems when not in use (and that means unplugged too, no power, no cable, no antenna lines, etc.) and quietly take up the hobby of "what if I was thrown back in time to the 1800's, what books, tools, and supplies would I wish I had?"

The images are way cool though, and the science is interesting, it's sort of disappointing that more people don't follow ... oh hey, Dancing With Some Idjit is on!