GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH (G1-CLASS): A minor geomagnetic storm is possible this week in response to a pair of approaching CMEs. The first CME, launched by an M4-class flare from departing sunspot AR2975, could graze Earth's magnetic field on April 6th. The second CME, flung away from the sun by an exploding filament of magnetism (described below), might deliver a glancing blow on April 7th. Their combined effect could produce  G1-class storming. Aurora alerts: SMS Text

A 'CANYON OF FIRE' JUST OPENED ON THE SUN: Yesterday, April 3rd, a filament of magnetism whipsawed out of the sun's atmosphere. On the way out it carved a gigantic canyon of fire. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the eruption:

The glowing walls of the canyon are at least 20,000 km high and 10 times as long. They trace the channel where the filament (R.I.P.) was previously suspended by magnetic forces inside the sun's atmosphere.

A coronal mass ejection (CME) has since emerged from the blast site. Here it is. The expanding cloud will probably sideswipe Earth's magnetic field on April 7th. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text

Solar wind speed: 470.1 km/sec density: 5.2 protons/cm3 more data: ACE, DSCOVR Updated: Today at 1029 UT X-ray Solar Flares 6-hr max: C3 0745 UT Apr04  24-hr: C6  1309 UT Apr03   explanation | more data Updated: Today at: 1035 UT Daily Sun: 04 Apr 22  Expand: labels | no labels NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft is monitoring three ultraviolet hotspotsbehind the sun's eastern limb. These may be new sunspots poised to rotate onto the Earthside of the sun. Credit: SDO/HMI Sunspot number: 129  What is the sunspot number? Updated 04 Apr 2022 Spotless Days Current Stretch: 0 days 2022 total: 0 days (0%) 2021 total: 64 days (18%) 2020 total: 208 days (57%) 2019 total: 281 days (77%) 2018 total: 221 days (61%) 2017 total: 104 days (28%) 2016 total: 32 days (9%)  2015 total: 0 days (0%)  2014 total: 1 day (<1%) 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%) 2008 total: 268 days (73%)  2007 total: 152 days (42%) 2006 total: 70 days (19%) Updated 04 Apr 2022 Thermosphere Climate Index today: 12.80x1010 W Neutral Max: 49.4x1010 W Hot (10/1957) Min: 2.05x1010 W Cold (02/2009) explanation | more data: gfx, txt Updated 03 Apr 2022 The Radio Sun  10.7 cm flux: 140 sfu explanation | more data Updated 04 Apr 2022 Cosmic Rays Solar Cycle 25 is beginning, and this is reflected in the number of cosmic rays entering Earth's atmosphere. Neutron counts from the University of Oulu's Sodankyla Geophysical Observatory show that cosmic rays reaching Earth are slowly declining--a result of the yin-yang relationship between the solar cycle and cosmic rays. Oulu Neutron Counts Percentages of the Space Age average: today: +6.3% High 48-hr change: +0.1% Max: +11.7% Very High (12/2009) Min: -32.1% Very Low (06/1991) explanation | more data Updated 04 Apr 2022 @ 0700 UT Current Auroral Oval:  Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica Credit: NOAA/OvationPlanetary K-index Now: Kp= 3  quiet 24-hr max: Kp= 4 unsettled explanation | more data Interplanetary Mag. Field Btotal: 5.0 nT Bz: -1.2 nT south  more data: ACE, DSCOVR Updated: Today at 1030 UT Coronal Holes: 04 Apr 22 Earth is entering a stream of solar wind flowing from the indicated coronal hole. Credit: SDO/AIA Noctilucent Clouds  The southern season for noctilucent clouds is over. It ended on Feb. 20, 2022, concluding  the weakest NLC season in 14 years. The northern season will begin in late May.. Switch view: Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula, East Antarctica, Polar Updated at:  SPACE WEATHER NOAA Forecasts Updated at: 2022 Apr 03 2200 UTC FLARE 0-24 hr 24-48 hr CLASS M 65 % 15 % CLASS X 25 % 05 % Geomagnetic Storms: Probabilities for significant disturbances in Earth's magnetic field are given for three activity levels: active, minor storm, severe stormUpdated at: 2022 Apr 03 2200 UTCMid-latitudes  0-24 hr 24-48 hr ACTIVE 30 % 20 % MINOR 10 % 05 % SEVERE 01 % 01 % High latitudes  0-24 hr 24-48 hr ACTIVE 15 % 15 % MINOR 30 % 25 % SEVERE 40 % 30 %

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