Warning: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected; electron 2MeV Integral Flux >1000pfu | Hacker News Reader

Warning: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected; electron 2MeV Integral Flux >1000pfu

swpc.noaa.gov

31 pointsTerretta17 comments

As you can see if you scroll down the page (with many alerts of a similar magnitude in the last weeks), this is nothing unusual, solar disturbances of this level happen all the time.

We are getting closer to the peak of solar cycle 25 and increased solar activity is to be expected for the next few years:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle_25

Good for radio amateurs (simply speaking, more solar activity results in better radio propagation opportunities), potentially a risk for satellites and power grids.

People might be interested that there are lots of free apps that will tell you what the k index is and maybe send you a notification if it goes above a certain number. Around here numbers above seven are interesting.

interesting in what way? does it relate to the aurora or do you mean interesting in terms of taking out power and interfering with satellites?

Um, because people here are interested in stuff like solar numbers. Maybe some are hamsters, for instance.

Didn't know that. Any you can recommend?

I use an Android app called Aurora. In honestly though, I didn't exhaustively check all the options. But it works well.

We need the strategic transformer reserve!

https://www.energy.gov/ceser/articles/strategic-transformer-...

Yes, we do.

Today's geomagnetic event, though, hasn't even come up on the PJM dashboard. For K >= 7, they issue a Geomagnetic Disturbance Warning. 7 so far this year, none today. The next step up is a Geomagnetic Disturbance Action. One of those was issued in 2010:

    Geomagnetic Disturbance Action 04.11.2010 23:17 PJM-RTO
 
    As of 22:40 hours, a Solar Magnetic Disturbance - Conservative Operation Action 
    has been issued to protect the power system from damage or disruptions due to 
    increased solar magnetic activity.

    Additional Comments: SESC (Space Weather Operations) in Boulder, CO has issued an 
    SMD Warning of K-7 intensity from 4/11 at 2240 hrs to 4/12 at 1200 hrs EDT.

That's the most recent event that required power grid action.

If you want to monitor this event, https://www.mainsfrequency.com/ is a good starting point: during the increased solar activity, grid frequency should go up a bit more than usual, although the magnitude is still quite small and nothing like the 2022 event(s)

Forgive my ignorance, what does this imply? Will satellites fall from the sky or large parts of the internet go down?

Acording to NOAA scales page for geomagnetic storms this is a K-index of 4 (Kp = 4) which is on the G1 scale. Here's what it reads:

Power systems: Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.

Spacecraft operations: Minor impact on satellite operations possible.

Other systems: Migratory animals are affected at this and higher levels; aurora is commonly visible at high latitudes (northern Michigan and Maine).

- https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

3 days ago I noticed JPC van Heijst (a 747 pilot I follow on Facebook) mentioned the unusual auroras this time of the year.

https://www.facebook.com/christiaan.vanheijst/posts/pfbid0tV...

Say goodbye to the ice caps and welcome to the jungle.

The 40m band went out like someone threw a switch. You can’t even hear FT8.

There was an X flare at around 19 UTC:

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/goes-x-ray-flux

Bands are still doing fine over here in Europe, but I guess the US was hit with it in full force.

Coordinates point to southern hemisphere during its winter. Sure subsolar point would be in the northern hemisphere now, would it not?

Color me crazy, but last Monday began some of the worst heat in recent memory at regular summer temperatures. The sun felt penetrating.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com