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~Space Weather Update~AURORA, BOOM! [1]

Lia's picture

Submitted by Lia on Fri, 01/17/2014 - 11:41

CHANCE OF STORMS: NOAA forecasters estimate a 35% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on Jan. 17th when a minor CME is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for moonlit auroras. Aurora alerts: text [2], voice [3].

AURORA, BOOM! On Jan. 11th, Bjørn Hugo Hansen of Øverbygd, Norway, observed an explosive display of auroras--with sound effects. "The temperature was -27 C, and I was standing on the ice by our cabin. In the distance I could hear cracking sounds from the ice, a strange sound like a mix of whale bubbles hitting the ice and a small earthquake. This happens often. I believe it is stronger tonight, though, because of a big drop in temperature. Faint auroras were dancing quietly overhead when I spoke to myself -- 'Come on Aurora – give me all you got.' And BOOM! The sky exploded behind me." This is what he saw:

[4]

"Lady Aurora twisted around the sky, she threw her bridal veil all around," continues Hansen. "I was in ecstasy … and as if that was not enough,  the ice under me made a large DRUN! I had never heard the sound of the ice crack this close before, almost right under me. It was an enormous sound. A thin crack 5mm wide rushed across the lake. Then it became quiet and Aurora disappeared. AMAZING!"

A story like that makes you wish you were in Norway. Browse the gallery for more stories from the ice:

Solar wind
speed: 351.6 km/sec
density: 2.4 protons/cm3

explanation [5] | more data [6]
Updated: Today at 1927 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C8
1608 UT Jan17
24-hr: C8 1608 UT Jan17
explanation [7] | more data [8]
Updated: Today at: 1900 UT

Daily Sun: 17 Jan 14

[9]

None of the sunspots on the Earthside of the sun poses a threat for strong flares. Solar activity is low. Credit: SDO/HMI

Sunspot number: 77
What is the sunspot number? [10]
Updated 17 Jan 2014

Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
2014 total: 0 days (0%)
2013 total: 0 days (0%)
2012 total: 0 days (0%)
2011 total: 2 days (<1%)
2010 total: 51 days (14%)
2009 total: 260 days (71%)

Update 17 Jan 2014

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 121 sfu

explanation [11] | more data [12]
Updated 17 Jan 2014

Current Auroral Oval:

[13]

Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 1 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 1
quiet
explanation [14] | more data [15]

Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 3.2 nT
Bz: 0.7 nT south

explanation [16] | more data [17]
Updated: Today at 1927 UT

Coronal Holes: 17 Jan 14

[18]

Solar wind flowing from the indicated coronal hole could reach Earth on Jan. 22.. Credit: SDO/AIA.

Category: 

  • Earth & Space Weather [19]

Source URL: //soundofheart.org/galacticfreepress/content/space-weather-updateaurora-boom-0

Links
[1] //soundofheart.org/galacticfreepress/content/space-weather-updateaurora-boom-0
[2] http://spaceweathertext.com
[3] http://spaceweatherphone.com
[4] http://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=92916
[5] http://spaceweather.com/glossary/solarwinddata.html
[6] http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ace/MAG_SWEPAM_24h.html
[7] http://spaceweather.com/glossary/flareclasses.html
[8] http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_5m.html
[9] http://spaceweather.com/images2014/17jan14/hmi4096_blank.jpg?PHPSESSID=jt2vmvmmumde20beagkgl5tdp2
[10] http://spaceweather.com/glossary/sunspotnumber.html
[11] http://www.ips.gov.au/Educational/2/2/5
[12] http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/SolarCycle/f10.gif
[13] http://www.sec.noaa.gov/pmap/gif/pmapN.gif
[14] http://www.spaceweather.com/glossary/kp.html
[15] http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/kp_3d.html
[16] http://spaceweather.com/glossary/imf.html
[17] http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ace/MAG_24h.html
[18] http://spaceweather.com/images2014/17jan14/coronalhole_sdo_blank.jpg?PHPSESSID=jt2vmvmmumde20beagkgl5tdp2
[19] //soundofheart.org/galacticfreepress/type-post/earth-space-weather