Topic: M-class and X-class Solar Flares in a solar maximum.

[Maria]

Today's space weather report from www.spaceweather.com

CHANCE OF FLARES: The odds of a significant solar flare are improving as three sunspots develop complex magnetic fields with energy for M-class eruptions.

I do not know about you guys, but I feel wiped out with headaches whenever C-class and M-class+ flares explode in the direction of the earth.

[Asteriktos]

Can't say I feel any different based on flares, moon phases, etc. But then I also have wildly uncontrolled diabetes, and I feel the same all the time, whether I haven't ate anything in 15 hours or just wolfed down a whole pizza... so maybe my body is just fairly deadened by this point  

[LizaSymonenko]

Thanks, Maria!

I was wondering where those pesky headaches were coming from!

[biro]

I'm not a fan of sunspots, either.

[Maria]

Well, our earth's magnetosphere that protects us has been weakening. And yes, we are being exposed to more radiation. Hence, doctors are saying that some folks and animals (like the dogs you depicted in the photo) may be more susceptible to skin cancer. In fact, our neighbor's dog (a bull dog) has melanoma for which he has been receiving chemo and radiation therapy.

Wearing a piece of aluminum over our head might protect us from the UV rays that are emanating from these solar flares, but will not protect us from all the other radiation emanating from these M and X-class flares. And staying indoors will not help either, unless one stays in a bomb shelter with a lot of lead.

Living in a bunker would not be an option as one does need Vitamin D.

Oh, by the way, have you heard of that new reality show which offers the reward of a bunker for the winner?  

[biro]

There was a Nicholas Cage movie called Knowing, which deals with this. Most depressing movie ever.

[Maria]

Can't say I feel any different based on flares, moon phases, etc. But then I also have wildly uncontrolled diabetes, and I feel the same all the time, whether I haven't ate anything in 15 hours or just wolfed down a whole pizza... so maybe my body is just fairly deadened by this point  

My prayers. My sister is also struggling with wildly uncontrolled diabetes as is a dear family friend who almost lost his foot recently. His PT discovered the ulcer on his toe, which he had not even noticed, and got him admitted to the hospital immediately. That saved his life.

[Maria]

There was a Nicholas Cage movie called Knowing, which deals with this. Most depressing movie ever.

I rarely watch movies, especially depressing ones, unless it is of historical or spiritual importance.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Maria]

Latest news from www.spaceweather.com

   
Solar wind
speed: 639.1 km/sec
density: 0.0 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1617 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C9 1543 UT Jun07
24-hr: C9 1543 UT Jun07

So at 11:32 AM EDT, we were hit with a powerful C9.

[Maria]

Oh, my. A double whammy of M-class solar flares today. My eyes and teeth have brought me to tears.

1132 UT = 7:32 AM EDT
1650 UT = 12:50 PM EDT

This in from www.spaceweather.com

M-FLARES: A fast-growing active region near AR1499 is crackling with impulsive M-class solar flares, including two on June 9th (1132 UT and 1650 UT). This development could signal an uptick in solar activity.

[biro]

Oh, my. A double whammy of M-class solar flares today. My eyes and teeth have brought me to tears.

1132 UT = 7:32 AM EDT
1650 UT = 12:50 PM EDT

This in from www.spaceweather.com

M-FLARES: A fast-growing active region near AR1499 is crackling with impulsive M-class solar flares, including two on June 9th (1132 UT and 1650 UT). This development could signal an uptick in solar activity.

I did have some problems with satellite radio before.

[Maria]

I did have some problems with satellite radio before.

Yes, and our smoke detector will sound a brief alarm occasionally when we have a C or M-class solar flare. It just sounded about 20 minutes ago, so I checked www.spaceweather.com, and lo and behold, we just got hit with a CF at 1415 EDT.

And here is their most recent update:

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 1815 UT Jun10
24-hr: M1 0645 UT Jun10

Updated: Today at: 1900 UT

And their banner headlines suggest that we might see some auroras in the night skies.

[NicholasMyra]

I do not know about you guys, but I feel wiped out with headaches whenever C-class and M-class+ flares explode in the direction of the earth.

I guess the stars just...

aren't on your side.

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

[Jason.Wike]

Hmm, this correlates with my recent desire to reactivate my Netflix account and watch episode after episode of Battlestar Galatica.


...Maybe you're a Cylon?

[Maria]

Another CME:

June 10, 2012:

C2 at 1951 UT (1551 EDT).

And this update from www.spaceweather.com

Auroras are coming our way. Does anyone live in the Northern or Southern latitudes where auroras can be seen? If so, I would love to see pictures of those auroras.

CHANCE OF MAGNETIC STORMS: NOAA forecasters estimate a 30% chance of polar geomagnetic storms during the next 48 hours as a pair of CMEs pass by Earth, possibly delivering glancing blows to our magnetic field.

[Asteriktos]

After feeling crappy this morning, I felt really good later today. Like good good. Good good good. Haven't felt that way since my doc gave me some pain meds a few years ago for my back problems. Is that how drug users get to feel every day? Man, I'm missing out... 

[Maria]

I had high energy for a time today, but then felt wiped out.

Our smoke detector sounded again at 10:07 PM EDT. Must have been the CME that hit earlier.

Then another CME exploded from the sun per www.spaceweather.com

   


Solar wind
speed: 412.8 km/sec
density: 4.2 protons/cm3

Updated: Today at 0457 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 0428 UT Jun11 = 0028 hours EDT June 11.
24-hr: C1 0428 UT Jun11

Updated: Today at: 0500 UT

[Maria]

Things are popping and sizzling outside:

SHAPE-SHIFTING SUNSPOT: As it pops and crackles with low level solar flares, sunspot AR1504 is rapidly evolving. During the past 24 hours the active region has shape-shifted from an irregular dumbbell into a dark ring of magnetism wide enough to circumscribe a half-dozen planet Earths:

We just got hit today, June 11, 2012, with a C1 at 2105 UT, which is 1705 EDT or 5:05 PM EDT.

My husband was outside moving his car and suddenly felt awful.
Yes, it was over 80 degrees to boot.

[Maria]

According to www.spaceweather.com

MILD GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A mild (Kp=5) geomagnetic storm is in progress, sparking high-latitude auroras. Barth Firth sends this picture from Dawsonville, New Brunswick:

And there was another C2 at 11:15 PM EDT.

Glad that I am finished with my graduate degree.
I am like a zombie lately.
My prayers for those who are still trying to write papers.

[Maria]

More auroras may be seen in the night skys.

SUBSIDING GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A minor geomagnetic storm that crested during the opening hours of June 12th is subsiding now. At maximum, it ranked 5 on the 0-to-9 K-index scale of magnetic disturbances and turned the skies purple over Dawsonville, New Brunswick:

[go to www.spaceweather.com for this glorious photo of the northern sky.]

"The auroras lasted just a couple of minutes, [but they were beautiful]," says photographer Bart Firth. "They were blue to purple in color."

The storm was sparked by an episode of "negative IMF." That is, south-pointing magnetic fields in the solar wind opened a crack in Earth's magnetosphere; solar wind poured in and fueled the display. NOAA forecasters estimate a 10% to 20% chance of similar storms in the next 24 hours as the solar wind continues to blow. Magnetic storm alerts: text, voice.

In addition, per SpaceWeather.com, three more sunspots are turning toward the earth, and they are guaranteed to give us more C-class solar flares as well as beautiful auroras.


Any posters here from the Northern Latitude countries of Finland or Norway with a camera?
I would love to see your photos of the auroras.

[Maria]

X-FLARE: Earth-orbiting satellites have just detected a powerful X1.6-class solar flare (Sept. 10 @ 17:46 UT). The source was active sunspot AR2158, which is directly facing Earth. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the extreme ultraviolet flash:

To see a video of the X-Flare, please click: http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=10&month=09&year=2014

[Maria]

Email alert from www.spaceweather.com

Active sunspot AR2158 erupted on Sept. 10th, producing a strong X1.6-class solar flare.  Because the sunspot is directly facing Earth, this is a geoeffective event.  HF radio blackouts and other communications disturbances have already been observed on the day-lit side of Earth.  Stay tuned to http://spaceweather.com for more information and updates about the possibility of an Earth-directed CME and geomagnetic storms in the days ahead.

[Jetavan]

There was a Nicholas Cage movie called Knowing, which deals with this. Most depressing movie ever.

Really? I thought it was quite hopeful and refreshing. It's one of the few movies I personally own on DVD.

Given the premise of the movie, it was probably the most optimistic vision one could envision.

[podkarpatska]

A serious question. I've noticed sporadic  bad reception on XM radio in the car the past two days. I've only had the car a week or so. Does solar activity impact satellite radio feeds?

[Maria]

A serious question. I've noticed sporadic  bad reception on XM radio in the car the past two days. I've only had the car a week or so. Does solar activity impact satellite radio feeds?

Of course.

With the moderately high X and M flares we have had during the past few days (and past few years since 2010), the energy released can cause not only GPS interruptions so that you might end up in a river, ocean, or ditch, but also it can interfere with short wave radio signals and AM radio. Thankfully, we have not had another huge X flare like the Carrington Event of 1859 and the one in 1941 (not quite as bad).

There is a relatively inexpensive fix that has been done in some communities and corporations called electrical high voltage spike arrestors, but most communities will not be protected should we have another huge Carrington Event where electrical grids can be destroyed.