Moderately strong M1.4 solar flare erupted near the western limb

A moderately strong solar flare measuring M1.4 at its peak time erupted on March 31, 2014 from Region 2014. The event started at 07:20, peaked at 08:07, and ended at 08:18 UTC.

A Type IV Radio Emission was registered beginning at 08:17 UTC.  Type IV emissions occur in association with major eruptions on the sun and are typically associated with strong coronal mass ejections and solar radiation storms.

The responsible region is located near the western limb – the CME should not be Earth directed.

However, due to several partially Earth-directed CMEs from last couple of days, the geomagnetic field is expected to increase to unsettled and active levels on April 1 and continue through April 2 – unsettled to G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels.

Space Weather Message Code: ALTTP4
Serial Number: 454
Issue Time: 2014 Mar 31 0901 UTC

ALERT: Type IV Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2014 Mar 31 0817 UTC
Description: Type IV emissions occur in association with major eruptions on the sun and are typically associated with strong coronal mass ejections and solar radiation storms.

Sunspots

There are currently 8 numbered sunspot regions on the disk.

Sunspots on March 31, 2014. Image credit: NASA SDO / HMI

2010 S13W0* 201 10 2 BXO 3 B
2014 S13W78 175 200 4 CSO 5 B
2017 N10W49 146 130 9 DAC 10 BG
2020 S13W11 108 10 3 BXO 3 B
2021 S15E22 75 100 7 DAI 16 BG
2022 N16E36 61 40 1 HSX 1 A
2023 S16W91 188 10 1 AXX 1 A
2025 S24W20 117 30 3 DRO 3 B
2026 S11E76 21 30 3 BXO 3 B

Geomagnetic field forecast 

A pair of CMEs from March 28 are expected to arrive mid-to-late April 1, increasing the geomagnetic field to unsettled to active levels. The geomagnetic field is expected to further increase early-to-mid day April 2 (unsettled to G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels) due to continued influence from the March 28 CMEs in addition to the anticipated arrival of a pair of CMEs from March 29 and a single CME from March 30. (SWPC)

Featured image: NASA SDO AIA 304 on March 31, 2014 at 08:08 UTC