September 13, 2014 - Geomagnetic Storm, Earthquake Watch

Good morning. Here is a quick solar update on Saturday morning. Solar activity declined to low levels with only minor C-Flares detected. Both regions 2157 and 2158 continue to slowly decay, but will remain a threat for an isolated M-Class event. Elsewhere, region 2164 in the southern hemisphere is showing new spot growth, but remained quiet during the past day. A bright coronal mass ejection (CME) was observed on Friday in LASCO C2 imagery, but so far appears to be headed away from our planet.

As of this update, the solar wind speed as measured by the ACE spacecraft is 584.7 km/s, and the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field is pointing north +13.3 nT. Several hours of geomagnetic storming was observed yesterday evening following the X1.6 CME impact, including a brief period of Strong G3 storming at higher latitudes (KP=7). A geomagnetic storm watch remains in effect for today, although the Bz/IMF component would have to switch to a south pointing orientation for this to become more likely.

The anticipated coronal mass ejection (CME) generated by the X1.6 solar flare on September 10th swept past Earth at 15:55 UTC Friday. Solar Wind speeds as measured by the ACE spacecraft increased from 433.2 km/s, to 671.8 km/s. A Geomagnetic Sudden Impulse measuring 43 nT was detected by the ground based magnetometer in Boulder, Colorado. Moderate G2 geomagnetic storming was observed at high latitudes, with a brief period of Strong G3 storming detected as well. The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has since pointed north, a condition that is known to suppress geomagnetic activity. A geomagnetic storm watch will remain in effect on Saturday.

Aurora Display from New Hampshire, USA - By Christopher Georgia

Also in today's alternative news report are highlights of this day in history: Israel and the Palestinians sign a major accord; President George W. Bush takes responsibility for the federal response to Hurricane Katrina; Attica prison uprising ends; Rapper Tupac Shakur dies. (Sept. 13)