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
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Aurora forecasts
Northern Hemisphere
The auroral oval is expected to be predominantly at background levels, with no significant activity expected and therefore little chance of visible aurora.
Southern Hemisphere
The auroral oval is expected to be predominantly at background levels, with no significant activity expected and therefore little chance of visible aurora.
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Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: Chance of Minor Radio blackouts.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Low solar activity with mostly small-scale C-class flares observed. There are eleven sunspots on the visible disc, the three largest of which are situated in close proximity in the northwest quadrant, all of which are consolidating and stabilising. Another notable spot resides the east near the Sun's equator, though this spot is also decaying. All remaining regions are small and magnetically simple, with one small spot emerging in the southeast in recent hours.
No significant Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections have been observed leaving the Sun in available imagery in the past 24 hours.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar wind parameters were indicative of waning connection to a coronal hole fast wind. Solar wind speeds were Strong, easing back to Elevated. The Interplanetary Magnetic Field was weak. The north-south component fluctuated weakly. Geomagnetic activity was started Active (Kp4) and gradually became Quiet (Kp1-2).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: No solar radiation storms were observed.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Generally Low solar activity is expected with a chance of isolated Moderate-class flares.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: There are no Earth-directed coronal mass ejections currently in the forecast. Coronal hole fast wind influences are currently underway but should gradually wane with no further enhancements expected through the period.
Quiet to Unsettled (Kp 1-3) activity is expected through the period, with isolated Active (Kp 4) intervals and a slight chance of isolated G1/Minor Geomagnetic Storm intervals (Kp 5) on day 1 (18 Jul).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: No solar radiation storms are expected, with a daily slight chance of S1 Minor Solar Radiation Storms.
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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.
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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.
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