Viewing archive of Wednesday, 18 March 2015

Daily bulletin on solar and geomagnetic activity from the SIDC

Issued: 2015 Mar 18 1234 UTC

SIDC Forecast

Solar flares

Active (M-class flares expected, probability >=50%)

Geomagnetism

Active conditions expected (A>=20 or K=4)

Solar protons

Warning condition (activity levels expected to increase, but no numeric forecast given)

	10cm flux	Ap
18 Mar 2015	115	041
19 Mar 2015	116	031
20 Mar 2015	117	031

Bulletin

Solar flaring activity was moderate over the period with the largest flare an M1 flare from NOAA active region 2297 peaking at 23:31UT. The second largest flare of the period, a C9.3 flare peaking at 7:51UT was produced by a newly emerged region in the western hemisphere near N10W54, numbered NOAA 2302. Several additional C flares were produced by both regions. The region turning onto the visible disc on the eastern hemisphere was numbered NOAA 2303. Region 2297 continues to be the most complex region on disc although it decayed slightly. M flaring from this region remains likely. The newly emerged region 2302 evolved significantly and adds to the M-flaring probability. A slight chance for an X flare also remains in addition to the likely M flaring activity. The M flare from region 2297 was associated with a type II radio burst and a coronal dimming. The corresponding CME appeared to be rather narrow and directed westward and is not expected to have any influence to Earth. A filament eruption occurred near disc centre (S10W05) between 9:54 and 10:09 UT. No Earth directed CMEs were recorded in coronagraph images. Solar wind conditions were dominated by the March 15 CME impact. After the passage of the shock front early yesterday solar wind speed continued to increase reaching a peak of over 650 km/s around 10:45 UT March 17 and afterwards declining to current values of around 560 km/s. Total magnetic field reached a peak of over 35 nT around 13:35 UT afterwards declining to current values of around 11 nT. The Bz component was pronounced negative during the CME passage with values mostly hovering in the -15 to -20 nT range and with peaks down to -27 nT. Bz is currently roughly neutral. Temperature rose while density dropped during the event. Some rotation in phi angle was observed during the CME passage. Severe geomagnetic storm conditions were recorded at planetary level (NOAA Kp reaching 8) with also locally strong geomagnetic storm conditions (K Dourbes 7). Currently geomagnetic conditions have settled down to between unsettled and minor storm conditions. Solar wind conditions are expected to show the further decline of the CME influence, although solar wind conditions could remain elevated for an extended period due to the possible influence of a negative coronal hole high speed stream. Geomagnetic conditions are expected to be at unsettled to active or even minor storm levels.

Today's estimated international sunspot number (ISN): 032, based on 14 stations.

Solar indices for 17 Mar 2015

Wolf number Catania	///
10cm solar flux	114
AK Chambon La Forêt	134
AK Wingst	089
Estimated Ap	098
Estimated international sunspot number	032 - Based on 27 stations

Noticeable events summary

Provided by the Solar Influences Data analysis Center© - SIDC - Processed by SpaceWeatherLive

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