Largest Solar Flare Ever Recorded (X30-X40) DOES have an Earth-Directed Component

Solar-Terrestrial Dispatch Mailing List ^

[baltodog]

"The X18+ solar flare has been associated with a high velocity FULL HALO coronal mass ejection. There IS an Earthward directed component. Estimated plane of sky velocity for this event is 2381 km/sec, although it is probable the true velocity is above 2400 km/sec because there is some evidence for acceleration of the CME."

This happened to me once after I drank a six-pack of Milwaukee's Best.

[ClearCase_guy]

In Boston, the light was bright enough to read a newspaper at 1:00 in the afternoon!!!

[Quix]

I'm convinced.

SOUNDS like

another

sign in the heavens

for our era

to me.

[LasVegasMac]

No kidding! Can anyone explain what exactly is happening?

The Sun expelled a huge amount stuff - hot gas, charged particles, 'tater chip crumbs, etc.

The Sun farted in our general direction.

When the charged particles hit our atmosphere, things light up - Northern Lights (Aurora) - and if the fart was big enough it can electrically kill satelites, power grids (Canada a few years ago), lots of noise on radios - static - etc.

There you have it - what a CME is all about.

Dr. Sol

[jimkress]

It's all Bush's fault.

[Gorzaloon]

Last Thursday night the aurora borealis was visible at 42oN. Quite bright, red, shifting sheets and a few streamers.

Current background is 14 microrem/hr...should be fun to watch as the planet turns.

[Centurion2000]

Ok...now explain this in terms that I might understand, please!

Think of a giant nuclear fireball ... and someone just stepped on the gas pedal to make it go faster.

[tgslTakoma]

[Dust in the Wind]

Yes sir; it's a clear case of neglecting to state that the time of day was 10 P.M.
You were probably also subject to a full overlay of that bright luminicity.

[Blue_Spark]

Well, at least with the graph from the satellite X-ray sensors it appeared to be an X-20 class event to me. Besides the X-18 last week, the largest I've recorded was back in the mid-90's with an X-8 as I recall (lot of data to sift thru to find the data plot.) Last week was the quickest shock wave I can recall, less than 24hrs to impact (typical 36-48hr.) Too bad the satellite sensors are saturated right now, I would like to see the shock wave hit on the solar wind speed indicator. Aurora? Still depends on the interplanitary magnetic field polarity (Bz) when the shock wave hits. Pretty certain there will be AU in the hi-latitudes. Question is, will the AU oval go south? Very interesting propagation effects last week on the VHF bands. Australia (VK6 & VK8) into the PNW on 50mHz late afternoon 31 October. Very unusual for so late in the solar Cycle. I've been following the data stream for 30 years myself as it is related to radio propagation (WWV rpts, then Web-data in the 90's.)
Regards, 6M op in CN85

[yonif]

When is this supposed to take place?

[SamAdams76]

"Big sunspot thing coming Earth's way. What's it all mean for me? What's it all mean for me? Do I have to still finish my Algebra homework?"

[Semper911]

Australia (VK6 & VK8) into the PNW on 50mHz late afternoon 31 October.

Really? Interesting post, Sparky. Keep 'em coming.

[Marie Antoinette]

In case you're interested :-)

[Jorge]

Scarey.

I'll close my venetian blinds and be sure to wear at least a 15 SPF sunscreen out doors this week.

[John H K]

Ok...now explain this in terms that I might understand, please!

Well, these solar flares emit both energy (light of various forms, X-rays) and matter.

The energy arrives at the speed of light, which is 8 minutes....that's why we know there's a flare. The primary measurement is X-Ray Flux, which is measured by instruments on our geostationary weather satellites.

This flare produced more X-Rays than any flare ever recorded. In fact, it "pegged" the instruments at the higest they could measure for 11 minutes.

The matter doesn't move nearly as fast. It's BILLIONS of tons of ionized gas...called a "Coronal Mass Ejection"

If a CME isn't pointed at Earth, you can sort of watch it shoot off to the side.

If a CME IS pointed at earth, it forms a "full halo."

Imagine someone stood twenty feet from you, pointing a garden hose directly at you with it set to form a wide spread.

And they held the handle down for a few seconds. You'd see the water form an expanding circle or "Halo" around the person shooting the water at you. And you'd know you'd get hit by the water in a few seconds.

Because we saw this from the CME, we know the Earth will get hit at least partially.

Fortunately, Earh has a protective magnetic field. However, these CMEs strongly change that field, which can lead to charged particles getting into the upper atmosphere and causing auroras, and the changing magnetic fields can result in satellites left exposed to damage, and possible damage to electronic and electric devices on earth.

[listenhillary]

I've been following the thread!

[petuniasevan]

As usual: Cloudy here in E. Wisconsin. No break since before this current spate of CMEs began. Sigh.

To keep up on solar activity and auroras, visit Spaceweather.com.

SOHO site calls it an "X-whatever" flare!

[Sabertooth]

((((((growl)))))