[KL7AA] FW: Situational Awareness Geomagnetic Storm 02162011

[Allen R. Brier]

FYI

 

Allen Brier N5XZ / KL5DX 
1515 Windloch Lane 
Richmond, TX 77406-2533 
281-342-1882 
713-705-4801 (Cell) 
n5xz at arrl.net 

  _____  

From: Jeff Braun [mailto:braunjef at co.fort-bend.tx.us] 
Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2011 5:25 AM
To: Jeff Braun
Subject: Situational Awareness Geomagnetic Storm 02162011

 



>>> "State of Texas SOC"
<mailto:soc at txdps.state.tx.us%3e%202/16/2011%204:07%20PM%20%3e%3e>
soc at txdps.state.tx.us> 2/16/2011 4:07 PM >>

 

*Situational Awareness*

 

 

As the result of a Solar Flare and Coronal Mass Ejection(CME) two plasma
clouds are heading toward the Earth. These
plasma clouds have the potential to cause some level of geomagnetic storming
during the next 12 to 60 hours. The
National Coordinating Center(NCC) is requesting information on any
issues/unmet needs to impacts to the induced
currents of electrical networks, communications infrastructure, or service
due to the reported solar flare during the next
12-72 hours.

 

Earth-orbiting satellites have detected the strongest solar flare in more
than four years. At 0156 UT on Feb. 15th, giant
sunspot 1158 unleashed an X2-class eruption. X-flares are the strongest type
of x-ray flares, and this is the first such
eruption of new Solar Cycle 24. The explosion that produced the flare also
sent a solar tsunami rippling through the sun's
atmosphere and, more importantly, hurled a coronal mass ejection toward
Earth. This raises the possibility of
geomagnetic storms in the days ahead.

 

  _____  

 

Relevant news articles:

 

http://www.usnewssource.com/headlines/class-x-flare-of-solar-cycle-24-to-hit
-earths-magnetic-field_239426.html

 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41587712/ns/technology_and_science-space/ 

 

What is a Geomagnetic Storm?

 

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-magnetic-storm.htm

A magnetic storm, also known as a geomagnetic storm, is a disturbance in the
Earth's magnetic field caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) or solar
flares from the Sun. A magnetic storm usually begins between 24 and 36 hours
after the solar event, when a shock wave of
<http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-solar-wind.htm> solar wind reaches the
Earth's  <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-ionosphere.htm> ionosphere.
The magnetic storm then typically lasts 24 to 48 hours, though some may last
as long as days. The effects of a magnetic storm include disruption of
communications and navigation systems, intense auroras, damage to
satellites, and during the most extreme storms, induced currents in power
lines and pipelines that result in power outages and
<http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-corrosion.htm> corrosion. 

Serious magnetic storms occur once every decade or so, with the most severe
occurring once every century. They occur when energetic particles from a
<http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-solar-storm.htm> solar storm collide with
the ionosphere and  <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-magnetosphere.htm>
magnetosphere, creating a cascade of energetic particles and disturbing the
atmosphere's magnetic and electric currents. There have been two severe
magnetic storms in the last two centuries, including a storm on 28 August -
2 September 1859, which is the largest on record, and another on 13 March
1989.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_storm 

On March 13, 1989 a severe geomagnetic storm caused the collapse of the
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1989_geomagnetic_storm> Hydro-Québec
power grid in a matter of seconds as equipment protection relays tripped in
a cascading sequence of events.[1]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_storm#cite_note-cbc.ca-0> [3]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_storm#cite_note-2>  Six million
people were  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_outage> left without power
for nine hours, with significant economic loss. The storm even caused
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_(astronomy)> auroras as far south as
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas> Texas.[2]
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_storm#cite_note-Earth_dodges_magne
tic_storm-1>  The geomagnetic storm causing this event was itself the result
of a  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronal_mass_ejection> coronal mass
ejection, ejected from the  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun> Sun on March
9, 1989.[4] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_storm#cite_note-3> 

 

 

Texas Department of Public Safety -  KSW

Intelligence & Counterterrorism Division 

Texas Fusion Center
Phone: 512-424-7981 
Fax: 512-424-7418 
 <blocked::mailto:TXFusion at txdps.state.tx.us>
TXFusionCenter at txdps.state.tx.us  

  
  
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