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Negative polarity CH HSS causes geomagnetic storming on Earth

negative-polarity-ch-hss-causes-geomagnetic-storming-on-earth

A negative polarity, coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) became geoeffective early March 6, 2016, causing an increase in solar wind speeds and an enhanced interplanetary magnetic field. A G1 – Minor geomagnetic storm began at 17:28 UTC, increased to G2 – Moderate at 20:48 UTC and to G3 – Strong at 23:59 UTC.

Geomagnetic K-index of 4 was reached at 16:44 UTC. Area of impact was primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude. Weak power grid fluctuations can occur under those conditions and aurora may be visible at high latitudes.

Geomagnetic K-index of 5 was first reached at 17:28 UTC. This marked the beginning of a G1 – Minor geomagnetic storm. Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude. Under G1 conditions, weak power grid fluctuations can occur, minor impact on satellite operations is possible and aurora may be visible at high latitudes, i.e. northern tier of the US such as Michigan and Maine.

G2 – Moderate geomagnetic storming (K-index of 6) began at 20:48 UTC. Area of impact is primarily poleward of 55 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.

Under G2 geomagnetic storms, power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms. Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible. HF (high frequency) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes. Aurora may be visible as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state.

Update, March 7

Geomagnetic K-index of 7, G3 – Strong geomagnetic storm, threshold was reached at 23:59 UTC on March 6.

Potential impacts:

Area of impact primarily poleward of 50 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents – Power system voltage irregularities possible, false alarms may be triggered on some protection devices.
Spacecraft – Systems may experience surface charging; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites and orientation problems may occur.
Navigation – Intermittent satellite navigation (GPS) problems, including loss-of-lock and increased range error may occur.
Radio – HF (high frequency) radio may be intermittent.
Aurora – Aurora may be seen as low as Pennsylvania to Iowa to Oregon.

Northern Lights have descended as far south as Germany in Europe and Massachusetts in the USA. Skies over much of England turned green, too, SpaceWeather reports.

Credit: Sian Louise Gordon. Captured at: Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, England on March 6, 2016. Image via SpaceWeather.com

Credit: Martin McKenna. Captured at Toome, N. Ireland on March 6, 2016. Image via SpaceWeather

Credit: Ian Collins. Captured at Hereford, UK on March 7, 2016. Image via SpaceWeather 

For more images sent to SpaceWeather's Realtime Aurora Galery, visit http://spaceweathergallery.com/aurora_gallery.html

SWPC alerts

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK07
Serial Number: 101
Issue Time: 2016 Mar 07 0001 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 7
Threshold Reached: 2016 Mar 06 2359 UTC
Synoptic Period: 2100-2400 UTC

Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G3 – Strong

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 50 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents – Power system voltage irregularities possible, false alarms may be triggered on some protection devices.
Spacecraft – Systems may experience surface charging; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites and orientation problems may occur.
Navigation – Intermittent satellite navigation (GPS) problems, including loss-of-lock and increased range error may occur.
Radio – HF (high frequency) radio may be intermittent.
Aurora – Aurora may be seen as low as Pennsylvania to Iowa to Oregon.

***

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK06
Serial Number: 396
Issue Time: 2016 Mar 06 2049 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 6
Threshold Reached: 2016 Mar 06 2048 UTC
Synoptic Period: 1800-2100 UTC

Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G2 – Moderate

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 55 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents – Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms.
Spacecraft – Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible.
Radio – HF (high frequency) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes.
Aurora – Aurora may be seen as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state.

***

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK05
Serial Number: 935
Issue Time: 2016 Mar 06 2009 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 5
Threshold Reached: 2016 Mar 06 2005 UTC
Synoptic Period: 1800-2100 UTC

Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G1 – Minor

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents – Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Spacecraft – Minor impact on satellite operations possible.
Aurora – Aurora may be visible at high latitudes, i.e., northern tier of the U.S. such as northern Michigan and Maine.

***

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK05
Serial Number: 934
Issue Time: 2016 Mar 06 1729 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 5
Threshold Reached: 2016 Mar 06 1728 UTC
Synoptic Period: 1500-1800 UTC

Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G1 – Minor

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents – Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Spacecraft – Minor impact on satellite operations possible.
Aurora – Aurora may be visible at high latitudes, i.e., northern tier of the U.S. such as northern Michigan and Maine.

***

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK04
Serial Number: 1859
Issue Time: 2016 Mar 06 1646 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 4
Threshold Reached: 2016 Mar 06 1644 UTC
Synoptic Period: 1500-1800 UTC

Active Warning: Yes

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents – Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Aurora – Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska.

Featured image credit: Ian Collins. Captured at Hereford, UK  on March 7, 2016. Image via SpaceWeather 

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