M1.5 & M7.3 solar flares from sunspot region 2173

Thursday, 2 October 2014 19:36 UTC

The M7.3 solar flare looks eruptive but it is too early to tell if there really is a coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with this event. Type II and IV sweeps were detected as well as eruptive signatures on SDO imagery which makes it likely that a coronal mass ejection (CME) has been launched. We do need to note that the coronal mass ejection (CME) will likely be directed away from Earth as this sunspot region is already near the west limb. We will await coronagraph imagery and post more information regarding any coronal mass ejection (CME) when we can.

Images: NASA SDO/SIDC.

Space radiation storm

One thing to note is that this eruption could produce a space radiation storm here at Earth as this eruption is in a favourable location for high energy protons to reach Earth along the magnetic field lines of the interplanetary magnetic field. This could degrade HF radio communications at high latitudes.

NOAA SWPC alerts

ALERT: X-Ray Flux exceeded M5
Threshold Reached: 2014 Oct 02 1857 UTC
NOAA Scale: R2 - Moderate

ALERT: Type II Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2014 Oct 02 1858 UTC
Estimated Velocity: 713 km/s

ALERT: Type IV Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2014 Oct 02 1859 UTC

ALERT: Type II Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2014 Oct 02 1931 UTC
Estimated Velocity: 449 km/s

SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded M5
Begin Time: 2014 Oct 02 1849 UTC
Maximum Time: 2014 Oct 02 1901 UTC
End Time: 2014 Oct 02 1914 UTC
X-ray Class: M7.3
Optical Class: 1f
Location: S17W82
NOAA Scale: R2 - Moderate

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Coronal mass ejection (ADDED 06:30 UTC)

Coronagraph imagery are now available and show that the coronal mass ejection associated with the M7.3 event is as expected heading south-west and away from Earth.