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Space Weather
Solar Activity Monitor
for the next 24 hours |
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About the Solar X-ray status monitorThe X-ray Solar status monitor downloads data periodically from the NOAA Space Environment Centre FTP server. The previous 24 hours of 5 minute Long-wavelength X-ray data from each satellite (GOES 8 and GOES 10) is analyzed, and an appropriate level of activity for the past 24 hours is assigned as follows:
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NOAA Space Weather Scale for Geomagnetic Storms
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Category |
Effect |
Physical measure |
Average Frequency |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Scale |
Descriptor |
Duration of event will influence severity of effects |
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Geomagnetic Storms |
Kp values* determined every 3 hours |
Number of storm events when Kp level was met; (number of storm days) |
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Extreme |
Power systems: : widespread voltage control problems and protective system problems can occur, some grid systems may experience complete collapse or blackouts. Transformers may experience damage. Spacecraft operations: may experience extensive surface charging, problems with orientation, uplink/downlink and tracking satellites. Other systems: pipeline currents can reach hundreds of amps, HF (high frequency) radio propagation may be impossible in many areas for one to two days, satellite navigation may be degraded for days, low-frequency radio navigation can be out for hours, and aurora has been seen as low as Florida and southern Texas (typically 40° geomagnetic lat.)**. |
Kp = 9 |
4 per cycle |
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Severe |
Power systems: possible widespread voltage control problems and some protective systems will mistakenly trip out key assets from the grid. Spacecraft operations: may experience surface charging and tracking problems, corrections may be needed for orientation problems. Other systems: induced pipeline currents affect preventive measures, HF radio propagation sporadic, satellite navigation degraded for hours, low-frequency radio navigation disrupted, and aurora has been seen as low as Alabama and northern California (typically 45° geomagnetic lat.)**. |
Kp = 8, including a 9- |
100 per cycle |
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Strong |
Power systems: voltage corrections may be required, false alarms triggered on some protection devices. Spacecraft operations: surface charging may occur on satellite components, drag may increase on low-Earth-orbit satellites, and corrections may be needed for orientation problems. Other systems: intermittent satellite navigation and low-frequency radio navigation problems may occur, HF radio may be intermittent, and aurora has been seen as low as Illinois and Oregon (typically 50° geomagnetic lat.)**. |
Kp = 7 |
200 per cycle |
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Moderate |
Power systems: high-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms, long-duration storms may cause transformer damage. Spacecraft operations: corrective actions to orientation may be required by ground control; possible changes in drag affect orbit predictions. Other systems: HF radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes, and aurora has been seen as low as New York and Idaho (typically 55° geomagnetic lat.)**. |
Kp = 6 |
600 per cycle |
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Minor |
Power systems: weak power grid fluctuations can occur. Spacecraft operations: minor impact on satellite operations possible. Other systems: migratory animals are affected at this and higher levels; aurora is commonly visible at high latitudes (northern Michigan and Maine)**. |
Kp = 5 |
1700 per cycle |
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X-Ray Flux
This plot shows 3-days of 5-minute solar x-ray flux
values measured on the SEC primary and secondary GOES satellites.
One low value may appear prior to eclipse periods. 
The Earth has a magnetic field
that resembles the field of a bar magnet located at centre of the Earth. In
Finland the strength of the field is about 51000 nT (nanotesla). Magnetic
field is a vector quantity which means that in addition to its strength it
is important to know also its direction. The standard measurements of the
geomagnetic field determine its geographic north (X), east (Y), and downward
(Z) components. In Finland the field is directed almost perpendicularly
downwards and thus the Z-component is much larger than the X- and
Y-components.
The accompanying magneto gram show the X-, Y-, and Z-components of the
magnetic field recorded today at the Nurmijrvi geophysical
observatory. At the left side of the magneto grams you can see the nanotesla
scale that can be used to estimate the amplitudes of the various in the field
components.
Electric currents flowing in the upper atmosphere (in the ionosphere at 100
km altitude) cause continuous variability in the geomagnetic field. During
auroral periods the strongest currents flow in the east-west direction
causing variation especially in the X-component which typically decreases
(i.e. the curve deviates downward).
The strength of the ionospheric currents can be easily estimated if the
amplitude of the magnetic field variation is known. According to a rough
thumb rule one nanotesla deviation corresponds to a current enhancement of
1000 amperes. Such currents are large when compared e.g. to the few ampere
currents of domestic appliances. In Lapland during auroral periods typical
measured magnetic deviations are of the order of a few hundreds of nanotesla
corresponding to ionospheric currents of a few hundreds of amperes. During
the strongest geomagnetic storms, like at the end of October 2003, the
ionospheric currents can easily exceed million amperes.
This is a summary of latest plots of space weather data as provided by NOAA/SEC.
Informations by
| Estimated
Planetary K index (3 hour data)
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GOES Electron Flux (5 minute data)
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GOES Magnetometer (1 minute data)
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| GOES 11
Proton Flux (5 minute data)
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GOES Satellite
Environment
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GOES X-ray Flux (5 minute data)
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