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Viewing archive of Wednesday, 18 April 2001

Solar activity report

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Any mentioned solar flare in this report has a scaling factor applied by the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). Because of the SWPC scaling factor, solar flares are reported as 42% smaller than for the science quality data. The scaling factor has been removed from our archived solar flare data to reflect the true physical units.
Report of Solar-Geophysical Activity 2001 Apr 18 2200 UTC
Prepared by the NOAA © SWPC and processed by SpaceWeatherLive.com

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity

SDF Number 108 Issued at 2200Z on 18 Apr 2001

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 17-2100Z to 18-2100Z

Solar activity was moderate. The largest flare of the period was an optically uncorrelated M1 at 17/2157 UTC. EIT imagery suggests the source of this flare to be returning Region 9393, which has been newly numbered as Region 9433 (N15E74). Old Region 9415 (L=360) produced a C2 flare, CME, Type II sweep, and 570 sfu tenflare at 18/0215 UTC. The region was almost 25 degrees beyond the West limb at the time, which likely masked the full strength of the x-ray flare. New Region 9432 (N09E21) was also numbered today.
IB. Solar Activity Forecast
Solar activity is expected to be predominantly low with a chance for an isolated M flare from Region 9433.
IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 17-2100Z to 18-2100Z
The geomagnetic field has been quiet to minor storm, with severe storm conditions at high latitudes. An interplanetary shock passed the ACE spacecraft at 18/0005 UTC; subsequently the Boulder magnetometer registered a 50 nT sudden impulse at 18/0048 UTC. This shock was likely associated with the X14/2B on 15 April. Greater than 10 MeV and greater than 100 MeV proton events began at 18/0315 UTC and 18/0255 UTC respectively, most likely associated with the activity from old Region 9415 discussed in Part IA. The greater than 10 MeV protons reached a peak of 321 pfu at 18/1045 UTC, while the greater than 100 MeV protons reached 12 pfu at 18/0600 UTC. The Thule neutron monitor measured a ground level event between 18/0242 UTC and 18/0914 UTC; a polar cap absorption (PCA) event began at 18/0425 UTC and remains in progress. Values for the greater than 2 MeV electrons at geosynchronous orbit were not reported due to sensor contamination by the proton event.
IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast
The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to active on day one of the forecast period, dropping to quiet to unsettled on days two and three. The proton events and PCA are expected to end on day one.
III. Event Probabilities 19 Apr to 21 Apr
Class M40%40%40%
Class X05%05%05%
Proton99%10%01%
PCAFin progress
IV. Penticton 10.7 cm Flux
  Observed       18 Apr 132
  Predicted   19 Apr-21 Apr  135/145/155
  90 Day Mean        18 Apr 165
V. Geomagnetic A Indices
  Observed Afr/Ap 17 Apr  004/007
  Estimated     Afr/Ap 18 Apr  028/050
  Predicted    Afr/Ap 19 Apr-21 Apr  012/015-010/015-005/010
VI. Geomagnetic Activity Probabilities 19 Apr to 21 Apr
A. Middle Latitudes
Active30%25%10%
Minor storm05%05%01%
Major-severe storm01%01%01%
B. High Latitudes
Active50%50%30%
Minor storm15%15%05%
Major-severe storm05%05%01%

All times in UTC

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