Space Weather
Space Weather
Space weather describes changing environmental conditions in near-Earth space. Magnetic fields, radiation, particles and matter, which have been ejected from the Sun, can interact with the Earth’s upper atmosphere and surrounding magnetic field to produce a variety of effects.
Space weather notifications
There are currently no active notifications.
Aurora forecasts
Northern Hemisphere
The auroral oval is likely to become active tonight, with auroral sightings visible in Scotland and to the north of Northern Ireland. However, given our proximity to the solstice, viewing conditions of any enhancements are expected to be impaired. The activity may last into Wednesday before subsiding on Thursday.
Southern Hemisphere
The auroral oval is likely to become active tonight, with auroral sightings visible in New Zealand and Tasmania. The activity may last into Wednesday before subsiding on Thursday.
Issued at:
Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: Chance of Minor/Moderate radio blackouts (R1/R2) Day 1. Minor/Moderate geomagnetic storm (G1/G2) expected Day 1, likely Day 2.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Activity was Low, with several minor Common-class flares.
There are currently five sunspot regions on the Earth's visible disc. The largest active region currently visible is located in the south, just west of the central meridian. It features two moderately sized leader spots, followed by a trailing cluster of smaller spots. Right behind it, across the central meridian, lies another spot, consisting of a weakening leading portion followed by a modest trailing sunspot surrounded by smaller, transient spots which have recently simplified, having lost their delta configuration. The remaining sunspot regions are small and simple.
No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections have been identified in the available coronagraph imagery over the past 24 hours, though several elongated and potentially unstable filaments are currently visible on the solar disc.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar winds and associated parameters suggest a transition from a coronal hole high speed stream to another. Solar wind speeds have been slightly elevated. The interplanetary magnetic field was weak, with the all-important north-south component also oscillating weakly. The net result of the above solar wind measures was for Quiet geomagnetic activity (Kp1-2) with one provisionally Unsettled interval between 24/1500-1800 UTC.
Solar Radiation: No solar radiation storms were observed.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Activity is forecast to be Low, with a slight chance of M-class flares.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: No coronal mass ejections feature in the forecast. The next significant solar wind enhancement is expected from CH59/– early on Day 1 (25 Jun).
Geomagnetic activity is expected to become Active with several G1/G2 Minor/Moderate Geomagnetic Storm intervals on Day 1, these perhaps continuing for a time on Day 2. An isolated G3/Strong Geomagnetic Storm interval cannot be ruled out. Geomagnetic Activity will then likely fall back to Quiet to Unsettled later Days 3 & 4 (27-28 Jun).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: There is a daily slight chance of S1/Minor Solar Radiation Storm, most likely from any notable flares from regions in the western hemisphere.
Issued at:
Solar imagery
SDO AIA-193
This channel highlights the outer atmosphere of the Sun - called the corona - as well as hot flare plasma. Hot active regions, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections will appear bright here. The dark areas - called coronal holes - are places where very little radiation is emitted, yet are the main source of solar wind particles.
Issued at:
SDO AIA-304
This channel is especially good at showing areas where cooler dense plumes of plasma (filaments and prominences) are located above the visible surface of the Sun. Many of these features either can't be seen or appear as dark lines in the other channels. The bright areas show places where the plasma has a high density.
Issued at: