M9.4 solar flare erupts beyond northeastern limb


A strong solar flare measuring M9.4 erupted beyond the Sun’s northeastern limb on November 25, peaking at 07:42 UTC.

A 10cm Radio Burts (Tenflare), lasting 3 minutes and with a peak flux of 210 sfu, was registered from 07:33 to 07:36 UTC.

A 10cm radio burst indicates that the electromagnetic burst associated with a solar flare at the 10cm wavelength was double or greater than the initial 10cm radio background. This can be indicative of significant radio noise in association with a solar flare. This noise is generally short-lived but can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications.

This region also produced M1.1 at 20:22 UTC on November 24.

The location of this region does not favor Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs). However, this will change in the days ahead as the region moves toward the center of the solar disk.

Image credit: SWPC
m9.4 solar flare november 25 2024 aia 131 bg
M9.4 solar flare on November 25, 2024. Image credit: NASA SDO/AIA 131, Helioviewer, The Watchers
m9.4 solar flare november 25 2024 aia 304 bg
M9.3 solar flare on November 25, 2024. Image credit: NASA SDO/AIA 304, Helioviewer, The Watchers

Additionally, beginning at approximately 01:48 UTC on November 25, a filament eruption, centered near S45E18, was observed in GOES-16 304 angstroms imagery. This event was modeled and returned as a miss below Earth’s orbit.

“Any glancing influence would likely materialize on November 29, but confidence is low in this outcome. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available imagery,” NOAA SWPC forecasters said at 12:30 UTC today.

sunspots on november 25 2024
Sunspots on November 25, 2024. Image credit: NASA SDO/HMI

Solar activity will likely continue at high levels due to R1 – R2 (Minor – Moderate) radio blackout activity, with a slight chance for R3 – Strong radio blackouts, through November 27.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux was at normal to moderate levels in 24 hours to 12:30 UTC on November 25, while the greater than 10 MeV proton flux returned to background levels.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to continue at normal to moderate levels. There’s a slight chance for the greater than 10 MeV proton flux to reach S1 – Minor solar radiation storm levels through November 27 primarily due to the flare and subsequent CME potential currently exhibited by AR 3906.

Solar wind parameters reflected weak, negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) influence over the past 24 hours. The total field was primarily 6 – 9 nT, and the Bz component underwent several southward deflections reaching -5 to -7 nT. Solar wind speeds ranged ~400 km/s to brief peaks near 450 km/s. Phi was predominantly in a negative orientation.

Solar wind parameters are expected to begin to trend towards a more ambient-like state over the remainder of November 25 and remain in a nominal state through November 27 thereafter.

The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels with an isolated active period at the end of November 24.

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels for the remainder of November 25. Predominantly quiet levels are expected to prevail through November 27.

References:

1 Forecast Discussion – NOAA/SWPC – Issued at 12:30 UTC on November 25, 2024Center.




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