Viewing archive of Tuesday, 26 March 2024

Daily bulletin on solar and geomagnetic activity from the SIDC

Issued: 2024 Mar 26 1233 UTC

SIDC Forecast

Solar flares

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

Geomagnetism

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

Solar protons

Quiet

	10cm flux	Ap
26 Mar 2024	186	017
27 Mar 2024	182	019
28 Mar 2024	177	008

Solar Active Regions and flaring

The solar flaring activity was at moderate levels. The largest flare of the period was an M1.9 flare with peak time 00:36 UTC March 26. This flare originated from Catania region 22 (NOAA AR 3615), which is the largest and most complex region on disk (Beta- Gamma-Delta). This region also produced two further M-class flares (M1 and M1.3 peaking at 10:17 UTC and 10:43 UTC, respectively). Catania region 21 (NOAA AR 3614) produced a C7.9 flare with peak time 15:27 UTC March 25. Catania region (NOAA AR 3619) also produced C-class flaring. The remaining regions on disk were mostly quiet. The solar flaring activity is expected to be at moderate levels over the next 24 hours with C-class flares expected, M-class flares likely and a low probability for an X-class flare.

Coronal mass ejections

No Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have been detected in the available coronagraph imagery.

Solar wind

The solar wind speed remained enhanced overall due to the ongoing ICME influence, but gradually decreased from values around 800 km/s to around 600 km/s. The interplanetary magnetic field ranged between 0 and 8 nT. The Bz component reached a minimum value of -4 nT. The interplanetary magnetic field phi angle switched into the positive sector from 15:23 UTC March 25. The Earth is expected to continue under the waning influence of this ICME over the next 24 hours with the enhanced solar wind speed expected to persist on March 26 and 27, as it continues to gradually decrease.

Geomagnetism

Geomagnetic conditions reached active conditions (NOAA Kp 4 and Local K Bel 4) between 12:00 and 15:00 UTC March 25. Conditions then reduced to quiet to unsettled levels. Geomagnetic conditions are expected to be at unsettled to active conditions on March 26 and 27, with further minor storm conditions possible in response to any prolonged period of negative Bz while the Earth is still under the influence of the high solar wind speed of the ICME.

Proton flux levels

Over the past 24 hours the greater than 10 MeV GOES proton flux was above the 10pfu threshold at the start of the period (with a value of around 24 MeV as measured by GOES-16) and then gradually decreased to below the threshold from 15:25 UTC March 25. The proton flux is expected to remain slightly elevated but be below 10 Mev threshold over the next 24 hours.

Electron fluxes at geostationary orbit

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux remained below the 1000 pfu threshold as measured by GOES 16. It is expected to remain below this threshold over the next day. The 24-hour electron fluence was at nominal levels. The electron fluence is expected to be at nominal levels for the next day.

Today's estimated international sunspot number (ISN): 143, based on 09 stations.

Solar indices for 25 Mar 2024

Wolf number Catania	194
10cm solar flux	190
AK Chambon La Forêt	021
AK Wingst	022
Estimated Ap	021
Estimated international sunspot number	166 - Based on 18 stations

Noticeable events summary

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

All times in UTC

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