|
BOREALIS 2000
NEWS
|
GEOMAGNETIC
ACTIVITY ARCHIVE |
All images on this page
© Dirk Obudzinski
December 2003
Monday, December 1:
The geomagnetic field was at predominantly quiet to unsettled levels. High latitudes
experienced periods of active conditions due to a weak recurrent high speed
stream coronal hole. Solar wind speed ranged between 387 and 495 km/s, the planetary
A index was 10.
Tuesday, December 2:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 374 and 469 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Wednesday, December 3:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to slightly unsettled levels. Solar wind
speed ranged between 343 and 434 km/s, the planetary A index was 7.
Thursday, December 4:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed and
the total field of the interplanetary magnetic field increased slowly after
12h UTC as a fairly low speed coronal stream began to dominate the solar wind.
This coronal hole related stream increased in intensity after 02h UTC on December
5 with the IMF swinging strongly southwards. Solar wind speed ranged between
327 and 379 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Friday, December 5:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to major storm levels. A ten hour period of southward Bz, together with
solar wind speed near 475 km/s produced minor storm levels for most
of the day. At
approximately 02:00 UTC the total field measurement of the
interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) increased to 20 nT. The Bz
component of the IMF, after an initial northward direction, turned
southward for nearly ten hours, then began a north-south
oscillation. This signature is similar to that of a co-rotating
interaction region preceding the onset of a high speed stream, but
may include transient effects from a faint halo CME that occurred on
December 2. Solar wind speed ranged between 348 and 526 km/s, the planetary A index was 43.
Monday, December 8:
The geomagnetic field varied from quiet to major storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 433 and 662 km/s, increasingly under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 39.
Tuesday, December 9:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 580 and 762 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 31.
Wednesday, December 10:
The geomagnetic field was at active to major storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 586 and 879 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 42.
Thursday, December 11:
The geomagnetic field has been at unsettled to major storm conditions. Solar
wind speed ranged between 718 and 860 km/s under the influence of a high speed
coronal stream. The planetary A index was 40.
Friday, December 12:
The geomagnetic field has been at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind
speed ranged between 647 and 817 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 23.
Saturday, December 13:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 619 and 853 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 28.
Sunday, December 14:
The geomagnetic field has been at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind
speed ranged between 631 and 862 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 25.
Wednesday, December 17:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 407 and 497 km/s, the planetary A index was 10.
Friday, December 19:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 292 and 353 km/s, the planetary A index was 7.
Saturday, December 20:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 304 and 490 km/s, generally increasing all day under the influence of
a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 16.
Tuesday, December 23:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. The coronal hole high speed stream
has now rotated out of a geoeffective position. Solar wind speed declined from
a maximum of near 650 km/s to approximately 500 km/s at the end of this period.
November 2003
Saturday, November 1:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speeds
have gradually decreased from the start of the period, approximately 850 km/s
to 600 km/s (at the time of this writing: 21.00 UTC) while the Bz component
of the interplanetary magnetic field has remained consistently northward during
the period.
Sunday, November 2:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Isolated minor
storm conditions were likely due to the continued elevated solar winds speeds
and the occasional southward Bz in the interplanetary magnetic field. Solar
wind speed ranged between 469 and 624 km/s, the planetary A index was 18.
Monday, November 3:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 464 and 568 km/s, the planetary A index was 10.
Tuesday, November 4:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to severe storm
levels. A shock passage occurred at the ACE satellite near 06:00 UTC due to
the CME from the X8 event on November 2. A sudden impulse of 72 nT was observed
by the Boulder magnetometer at 06:27 UTC. The Bz component of the interplanetary
magnetic field remained north though most of the day; however, an isolated period
of severe storm conditions was observed from 09:00 to 12:00 UTC. Solar
wind speed ranged between 461 and 697 km/s, the planetary A index was 31.
Wednesday, November 5:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 464 and 596 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Thursday, November 6:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. The shock from the
X28 flare on November reached Earth at 19:37 UTC. A 31nT sudden impulse was
observed on the Boulder magnetometer and activity reached minor storm levels.
The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field initially turned south
to -7 nT and total field measurement reached 15 nT. Solar wind speed ranged between 440 and 592 km/s, The planetary A index was 14.
Friday, November 7:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 395 and 582 km/s, generally decreasing all day. The planetary A index
was 8.
Thursday, November 8:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. A fairly weak high speed stream arrived at about 13:00
UTC. While the interplanetary magnetic field has at times been moderately southwards,
only a mild response has been observed on the geomagnetic field. Solar wind speed ranged
between 408 and 502 km/s, the planetary
A index was 10.
Saturday, November 9:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to major storm levels. An isolated major
storm period occurred from 12:00-15:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between
466 and 602 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 25.
Monday, November 10:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to major storm levels. An isolated major
storm period occurred from 12:00-15:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between
466 and 602 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 25.
Tuesday, November 11:
The geomagnetic field ranged from active to severe storm levels. A single K=7
period was observed at Boulder from 03:00-06:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged
between 596 and 776 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream.
The planetary A index was 51.
Wednesday, November 12:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 607 and 761 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 26.
Thursday, November 13:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels, with a period
of major storm levels at high latitudes. The interplanetary magnetic field became stronger after 11:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 581
and 759 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 42.
Friday, November 14:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to major storm levels. Mostly minor
storm levels predominated beginning at 21:00 UTC on November 13 through 15:00
UTC on November 14. Solar wind speed ranged between 569 and 719 km/s under the
influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 37.
Monday, November 17:
The geomagnetic field has been at active to minor storm levels. The favorably
positioned coronal hole continued to cause high solar wind speeds, and the accompanying
southward Bz of the interplanetary magnetic field, have kept the geomagnetic
field activity at elevated levels throughout the period.
Tuesday, November 18:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 610 and 761 km/s. The high speed stream appeared to be ending late in
the day. The planetary A index was 20.
Wednesday, November 19:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 451 and 646 km/s, the planetary A index was 14.
Thursday, November 20:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to extremely severe storm levels. A CME shock
arrived at SOHO and was observed at 07:40 UTC, and a geomagnetic sudden impulse
was observed at 08:05 UTC. A very strong (55 nT) southward component of the
interplanetary magnetic field resulted in severe geomagnetic storming during
the latter half of the day. Solar wind speed ranged between 431 and 915 km/s.,
the planetary A index was 117.
Friday, November 21:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to severe storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 446 and 581 km/s, the planetary A index was 39.
Saturday, November 22:
The geomagnetic field has been at mostly quiet to unsettled levels.
Sunday, November 23:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 466 and 601 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream.
The planetary A index was 21.
Monday, November 24:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled with isolated active periods at
higher latitudes. A well positioned coronal hole is producing solar wind speeds
near 600 km/s, creating a weak disturbance in the geomagnetic field. Solar wind
speed ranged between 462 and 615 km/s, the planetary A index was 12.
Tuesday, November 25:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled with isolated active periods. The
disturbed periods are due to a moderate high speed solar wind stream from a
well positioned coronal hole. Solar wind speed ranged between 494 and 706 km/s,
the planetary A index was 13.
Thursday, November 27:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled on November 27. Solar wind speed
ranged between 400 and 527 km/s, gradually decreasing all day. The planetary
A index was 10.
Sunday, November 30:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Ace data
indicated that a weak recurrent coronal hole high speed stream
became geoeffective early in the period. Solar wind speed ranged between 365 and 544 km/s, the planetary A index was 10.
October 2003
Wednesday, October 1:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 276 and 326 km/s. A disturbance arrived at ACE at approximately 16:00 UTC. At first the interplanetary magnetic field was weakly southwards, then became moderately to strongly southwards between 19:00 and 21:00 UTC. After 21:00 UTC the IMF has been northwards. The planetary A index was 10.
Thursday, October 2:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. The unusual disturbance
which began on October 1 continued on October 2. Solar wind IMF signatures are
consistent with a transient passage, but solar wind speed has remained quite
low; consequently, geomagnetic field impact was minimal.The interplanetary magnetic
field was northwards until about 20:00 UTC after which time increasingly more
frequent and stronger southwards excursions have been observed. Solar wind speed
ranged between 275 and 537 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Friday, October 3:
The geomagnetic field was at mostly quiet to active levels with an isolated
minor storm period between 03:00-06:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between
465 and 572 km/s, the planetary A index was 16.
Saturday, October 4:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to slightly active levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 388 and 538 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Sunday, October 5:
The geomagnetic field was at very quiet to active levels. A high speed coronal stream arrived at ACE at approximately
16:00 UTC. The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) was moderately to strongly
southwards at times between 19:00 and 21:00 UTC. Since then the IMF has been
mostly northwards resulting in a significant decrease in the geomagnetic disturbance
level. Solar wind speed ranged
between 333 and 503 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Monday, October 6:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. The Bz component of
the IMF remained north throughout the majority of the day. The main part of
the fairly weak high speed stream was observed at ACE after 11:00 UTC with solar
wind speed peaking at 22:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 368 and 734
km/sec, the planetary A index was 10.
Tuesday, October 7:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. A recurrent coronal hole
high speed stream is responsible for the elevated conditions. Solar wind speed
ranged between 481 and 650 km/s, the planetary A index was 13.
Wednesday, October 8:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. A slow increase in wind
speed was noted between 04:00-17:00 UTC and the high speed stream intensified
towards the end of the day. Solar wind speed ranged between 474 and
678 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Thursday, October 9:
The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet with the exception of a single active
interval early in the day. Solar wind speed ranged between 456 and 651 km/s
under the influence of a high speed stream. This influence weakened through
the day and appeared to be ending at 20:00 UTC at ACE. The planetary A index
was 8.
Friday, October 10:
The geomagnetic field was quiet. The interplanetary magnetic field was northwards most of the day, only
a few brief and weak southwards excursions were observed. Solar wind speed ranged between 408 and 517
km/s, the planetary A index was 5.
Saturday, October 11:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 350 and 433 km/s, the planetary A index was 5.
Sunday, October 12:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to slightly unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 286 and 369 km/s, the planetary A index was 6.
Monday, October 13:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 316 and 537 km/s, increasingly under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The Bz ranged from +/- 10 nT, the planetary A index was 13.
Tuesday, October 14:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to major storm levels. The elevated activity
is a result of the continued rise in the solar wind velocity and sustained southward
Bz. Solar wind speed ranged between 416 and 671 km/s, the planetary A index
was 48.
Wednesday, October 15:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to severe storm
levels. These effects are the result of a coronal hole high speed stream. Solar
wind speed ranged between 583 and 944 km/s, the planetary A index was 42.
Thursday, October 16:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind
data show the continuation of a high speed stream associated with a favorably
positioned coronal hole. Solar wind speed ranged between 542 and 622 km/s, the
planetary A index was 26.
Friday, October 17:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to minor storm levels. The earth continues
to be under the influence of a high speed solar wind stream. The interplanetary
magnetic field showed regular oscillations and had a weakly negative Bz component
on average. Solar wind speed ranged between 488 and 583 km/s, the planetary
A index was 31.
Saturday, October 18:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels as the high
speed solar wind stream continues. The interplanetary magnetic field Z-component
fluctuated between -7 nT and + 5 nT but was weakly negative on average. Solar
wind speed ranged between 479 and 588 km/s, the planetary A index was 27.
Sunday, October 19:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels. A jump in
solar wind velocity from 540 km/s to 600 km/s was observed around 22:00 UTC.
However, the solar wind signatures continue to be consistent with a high speed
coronal driven wind stream. The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic
field continues to oscillate around an average value of about -5 nT. Solar wind
speed ranged between 532 and 658 km/s, the planetary A index was 32.
Monday, October 20:
The geomagnetic field has been at unsettled to minor storm levels. Another favorably
positioned coronal hole is perpetuating the high speed solar wind stream, and
is continuing to keep the geomagnetic field disturbed. Solar wind speed ranged
between 494 and 700 km/s, the planetary A index was 30.
Tuesday, October 21:
The geomagnetic field has been at active to minor storm levels. A favorably
positioned coronal hole is supporting a high speed solar wind stream, which
is in turn supporting elevated magnetic activity at Earth. Solar wind speed
ranged between 577 and 765 km/s, the planetary A index was 39.
Wednesday, October 22:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to major storm levels. The effects from
a halo CME observed on October 19 dominated the solar wind all day, perhaps
with the exception of the first few hours when some influence from a high speed
coronal stream may still have been present. The interplanetary magnetic field
has been northwards since 18:00 UTC and the geomagnetic field has consequently
become quiet. Solar wind speed ranged between 467 and 773 km/s, the planetary
A index was 33.
Thursday, October 23:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 375 and 584 km/s, generally decreasing all day. The interplanetary magnetic
field was northwards all day. The planetary A index was 7.
Friday, October 24:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to severe storm
levels. A fairly strong solar wind shock was observed at SOHO at 14:47
UTC with a sudden increase in solar wind speed from 450 to 620 km/sec. The sudden
impulse was followed by about two hours of severe geomagnetic storm activity,
and produced a magnetopause crossing at the GOES 12 satellite. The total field
of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) was impressively strong, however,
having initially been moderately southwards, the IMF was mostly northwards after
18:00 UTC. This caused a decrease in the geomagnetic disturbance levels. Solar
wind speed ranged between 384 and 658 km/s, the planetary A index was 34.
Saturday, October 25:
The geomagnetic field has been quiet to active. Residual effects from yesterday's
transient arrival continue to cause occasional active conditions. Solar wind
speed has decreased steadily to about 500 km/s, and Bz continues to maintain
a consistent northward orientation. Solar wind speed ranged between 441 and
615 km/s, the planetary A index was 14.
Sunday, October 26:
The geomagnetic field has been quiet to active. Two solar wind shocks were recorded
during the day. The first was observed at SOHO at 07:49 UTC, probably the arrival
of a halo CME associated with a flare on October 23. The interplanetary magnetic
field was continuously northwards after the arrival of this CME and therefore
the CME did not become geoeffective. The second shock was noted at SOHO at 18:35
UTC. While the IMF was initially northwards, the IMF has become gradually more
southwards and a geomagnetic disturbance began late on October 26. The source
of the second shock was likely a CME observed after an M7 long duration event
on October 24 in region 486. Solar wind speed ranged between 356 and 640 km/s,
the planetary A index was 10.
Tuesday, October 28:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels. A CME was observed
to pass the ACE spacecraft at around 01:30 UTC. Solar wind speed rose to near
800 km/s, but Bz stayed northward, thwarting a significant geomagnetic response.
This shock was likely related to the arrival of the halo CME observed after
an X1 flare in region 486 on October 26. Solar wind speed ranged between 459
and 808 km/s, the planetary A index was 20.
Wednesday, October 29:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to extremely severe
storm levels. The powerful CME from the X17/4b flare at 11:10 UTC on
October 18, impacted the Earth's magnetic field at 06:13 UTC. The transit time
for this CME was around 19 hours, making it one of the fastest on record (only
a CME in 1859 is believed to have taken only 17 hours). The sudden impulse measured
140 nT on the Boulder magnetometer. Strong southward IMF Bz initiated severe
(K9) storming at middle and high latitudes in the 06:00 - 09:00 period (maximum
attainable level of 400 for the planetary A index during the 06-09h UTC interval).
Mostly northward Bz occurred from 09:00 - 18:00 UTC; however, major to severe
storming persisted. A sharp southward turn in the Bz occurred at around 18:00
UTC ending the SEC/NOAA period with K8-9 severe storming (IMF stayed very strongly
southwards for the remainder of the day). Solar wind speed ranged between 572
and 1004 km/s (SOHO solar wind data during the 07-18h UTC interval was invalid
due to the radiation storm and the solar storm. Solar wind speed probably exceeded
1200 km/sec during the early part of the disturbance). The planetary A index
was 189. This geomagnetic storm is the strongest observed
during solar cycle 23.
Thursday, October 30:
The geomagnetic field was at predominantly minor to severe
storm levels. The intense geomagnetic storm that began at 06:11 UTC on
October 29 continued through the first half of this period. Severe (K8-9) levels
were observed from 21:00 - 03:00 UTC. A short-lived "lull" (K5-6) in activity
preceded the onset of another severe geomagnetic storm. The very fast CME from
the X10 flare on October 29 impacted the magnetic field at around 16:00 UTC
- a remarkably fast 19-hour transit from Sun to Earth. GOES-10,11, and 12 geosynchronous
satellites have experienced magnetopause crossings and in fact have been outside
the magnetopause for much of the time since the onset of this severe storm.
Sustained southward IMF Bz in the -15 to -30 Nt range is assuring a severe response.
Friday, October 31:
The geomagnetic field ranged from active to severe storm
levels. The intense geomagnetic storm that began at around 16:00 UTC
on October 30, continued well into this period. Severe storm levels persisted
from 21:00 UTC through 09:00 UTC. Mostly active to major storm periods occurred
through the latter half of the period. Solar radiation contamination on the
ACE SWEPAM instrument finally ended at 00:52 UTC. Solar wind speed was at an exceptionally high 1200 km/s, but has been in a gradual
decline, ending the period at over 800 km/s. The prolonged periods of southward
IMF Bz that occurred early in the period have ended. Bz has been mostly northward
since 02:00 UTC. The greater than 100 MeV proton event in progress since 11:45
UTC on October 30 ended at 01:45 UTC. This prolonged high energy proton event
was actually two distinct events associated with the X17 and X10 flares on October
28 and 29 respectively.
September 2003
Monday, September 1:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Solar wind speed ranged between 361
and 582 km/s. The first part of the disturbance associated with a high speed
coronal stream arrived at ACE just before 04:00 UTC. Initially the interplanetary
magnetic field was moderately southwards, then mostly northwards between 07:00
and 16:00 UTC. After 16:00 UTC a fairly weak coronal hole stream dominated the
solar wind. The planetary A index was 14.
Tuesday, September 2:
The geomagnetic field has been quiet to active. Solar wind speed ranged between
467 and 612 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 12.
Wednesday, September 3:
The
geomagnetic field has been quiet to active. Solar wind speed ranged between
467 and 567 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 17.
Thursday, September 4:
The
geomagnetic field was unsettled to active. Solar wind speed ranged between 524
and 778 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 19.
Friday, September 5:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Solar wind speed ranged between 563
and 765 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. Wind speed
decreased during the day and the disturbance associated with the coronal hole
stream appeared to be ending late in the day. The planetary A index was 16.
Saturday, September 6:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled with very isolated active periods.
Solar wind speed ranged between 548 and 659 km/s under the weakening influence
of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 12.
Sunday, September 7:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
387 and 549 km/s, the planetary A index was 10.
Monday, September 8:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. A high speed coronal stream began
influencing the geomagnetic field after 17:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between
363 and 487 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Tuesday, September 9:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Solar wind speed ranged between 444
and 717 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 19.
Wednesday, September 10:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels.
Solar wind speed ranged between 569 and 808 km/s under the influence of a high
speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 19.
Thursday, September 11:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels.
Solar wind speed ranged between 561 and 743 km/s under the decreasing influence
of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 15.
Friday, September 12:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels.
Solar wind speed ranged between 551 and 630 km/s, the planetary A index was
11.
Saturday, September 13:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels.
The high speed stream of the past few days has ended. Solar wind speed ranged
between 450 and 597 km/s, the planetary A index was 11.
Sunday, September 14:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels.
Solar wind speed ranged between 360 and 475 km/s, the planetary A index was
7.
Monday, September 15:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. A disturbance arrived at ACE at approximately 18:00 UTC. The most likely source of the disturbance is a CME observed early on September 12. Solar wind speed ranged between 347 and 383 km/s, the planetary A index was 6.
Tuesday, September 16:
The geomagnetic field varied from unsettled to major storm conditions. The disturbance
which began after 18:00 UTC on September 15 intensified as the interplanetary
magnetic field at times was strongly southwards. A high speed coronal stream
began to dominate the solar wind towards the end of the day. Solar wind speed
ranged between 349 and 562 km/s, the planetary A index was 37.
Wednesday, September 17:
The geomagnetic field was at active to severe storm levels.
Solar wind speed ranged between 484 and 895 km/s under the influence of a strong
high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 61.
Thursday, September 18:
The geomagnetic field was at active to major storm levels.
The effects of the high speed solar wind continue again today. Solar wind speed
ranged between 753 and 965 km/s, the planetary A index was 40.
Friday, September 19:
The geomagnetic field ranged from active to minor storm
levels. This activity was due to the continued influence of a high speed solar
wind stream associated with a favorably positioned coronal hole. Solar wind
speed ranged between 595 and 874 km/s, the planetary A index was 32.
Saturday, September 20:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm
levels with an isolated major storm period at some locations between 03:00-06:00
UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 580 and 865 km/s under the influence of
a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 25.
Sunday, September 21:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to active levels,
with a period of minor storm at high latitudes from 12:00-15:00 UTC. A high
speed solar wind from a coronal hole continues to drive the activity. Solar
wind speed ranged between 475 and 671 km/s, the planetary A index was 21.
Monday, September 22:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 496 and 642 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream.
The planetary A index was 18.
Tuesday, September 23:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels. A coronal hole induced
high speed stream continues to be geoeffective, causing minor disruptions in
the Earth's magnetic field. Solar wind speed ranged between 467 and
549 km/s, the planetary A index was 17.
Wednesday, September 24:
The geomagnetic field has been at active to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 506 and 751 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 33.
Thursday, September 25:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. A favorably positioned
high speed coronal hole stream is responsible for the elevated conditions. Solar
wind speed ranged between 586 and 787 km/s, the planetary A index was 28.
Friday, September 26:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels. A coronal hole, which
has induced a high-speed solar wind stream for the last few days, is in its
final stages, but continues to impact the Earth's magnetic field. Solar wind
speed ranged between 531 and 652 km/s, the planetary A index was 17.
Saturday, September 27:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 439 and 546 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Sunday, September 28:
The geomagnetic field was at very quiet to slightly unsettled levels. Solar
wind speed ranged between 346 and 441 km/s, the planetary A index was 6.
Monday, September 29:
The geomagnetic field was at very quiet to slightly unsettled levels. Solar
wind speed ranged between 346 and 441 km/s, the planetary A index was 6.
Tuesday, September 30:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. The interplanetary magnetic
field was weakly to moderately southwards most of the day, however, this didn't
cause a noticeable increase in geomagnetic disturbance levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 275 and 364 km/s, the planetary A index was 7.
August 2003
Friday, August 1:
The geomagnetic field has been at active to minor storm levels. A high speed
solar wind stream flowing from a large coronal hole - combined with a series
of periods where the interplanetary magnetic field has been oriented Southward
- is responsible for the elevated activity.
Saturday, August 2:
The geomagnetic field has been at unsettled to minor storm levels. The high
speed stream associated with a significant coronal hole has been steady at approximately
720 km/s, making the geomagnetic field susceptible to variations in the interplanetary
magnetic field.
Sunday, August 3:
The geomagnetic field has been at unsettled to active levels. The coronal hole
driven high speed stream has passed beyond geoeffective range.
Monday, August 4:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Solar wind speed continues
to show a steady decline as the large southern coronal hole rotates
out of a geoeffective position. Occasional periods of southward Bz
account for the active levels.
Tuesday, August 5:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Solar wind speeds
continued a steady decrease as the coronal hole moves out of
geoeffective position.
Wednesday, August 6:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to severe storm
levels. ACE satellite data indicated a consistent southward Bz at 02:00 UTC,
with increasing solar wind speed thereafter, up to a maximum of 600 km/s. ACE
data is consistent with the arrival of a co-rotating interaction region and
associated high speed solar wind from an equatorial coronal hole moving into
geoeffective position.
Thursday, August 7:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels. High solar wind speeds
(up to 700 km/s), associated with a coronal hole in geoeffective position, are
the likely cause of active conditions late in the period.
Friday, August 8:
The geomagnetic field was at active to major storm levels. Periods of southward
Bz near -8 nT produced major and minor storm periods early in the day. Solar
wind speed increased from 600 km/s to near 800 km/s at 06:00 UTC and has remained
elevated.
Saturday, August 9:
The geomagnetic field was unsettled to active. The high speed solar
wind stream is subsiding as the large equatorial coronal hole
rotates out of a geoeffective position. Wind speed began the period
near 750 km/s, but has gradually declined to near 650 km/s.
Sunday, August 10:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. A declining high speed stream with
very low density and weak northward IMF Bz continues to buffet the Earth's magnetic
field. Solar wind speed declined from near 700 km/s to below 600 km/s by 21:00
UTC.
Monday, August 11:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels.
Tuesday, August 12:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. A
recurrent high speed coronal hole stream that became effective early
in the period is believed to be responsible for the elevated
conditions.
Wednesday, August 13:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to minor storm levels. The
elevated conditions are in response to a favorably positioned
coronal hole.
Thursday, August 14:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Sustained
periods of southward Bz during night side regions allowed for active
conditions.
Friday, August 15:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Two periods of active conditions
were observed. Solar wind speed remains elevated near 600 km/s and Bz was mostly
northward.
Saturday, August 16:
The geomagnetic field was at mostly unsettled to active conditions. Two periods
of isolated active conditions were observed. Solar wind speed has decreased
to below 500 km/s.
Sunday, August 17:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels.
A moderately strong solar wind shock passed the NASA/ACE spacecraft at 13:40
UTC with a 100 km/s increase in solar wind speed to 540 km/s and an increase
in B-total to over 20 nT. The interplanetary magnetic field was mostly northwards
for the remainder of the day. Solar wind speed ranged between 444 and 558 km/s,
the planetary A index was 15.
Monday, August 18:
The geomagnetic field was at minor to very severe storm levels.
Around 01:00 UTC the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field turned
southward to -15 nT with a peak near -25 nT. This shift in Bz resulted in sustained
minor to severe storm levels until 15:00 UTC. Solar wind data are consistent
with an interplanetary transient. Re-analysis of solar data for the past few
days indicate activity in Region 431 (near center disk) late on August 14 as
a possible source of this storm. Solar wind speed ranged between 444 and 636 km/s, the planetary A index was 86.
Tuesday, August 19:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to major storm levels.
The CME-induced disturbance that occurred yesterday appears to have ended. The
field has been at unsettled to quiet levels since about 06:00 UTC. Solar wind
speed ranged between 391 and 511 km/s, the planetary A index was 21.
Wednesday, August 20:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind density increased
slowly all day and peaked near 22:00 UTC. At this time a high speed coronal
stream began dominating the solar wind. Solar wind speed ranged between 386
and 561 km/s, the planetary A index was 15.
Thursday, August 21:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to severe
storm levels. The most disturbed period was from 06:00 to 09:00 UTC.
ACE solar wind data indicates the gradual onset of a coronal hole high-speed-stream
over the past 24 hours. Solar wind speed ranged between 507 and 864 km/s, the planetary A index was 53.
Friday, August 22:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to major storm levels.
The high speed stream induced disturbance continues. Solar wind speed ranged between 749 and 944 km/s, the planetary A index was 43.
Saturday, August 23:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to severe storm levels. Solar wind
speed ranged between 673 and 887 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 44.
Sunday, August 24:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. One period of
minor storm conditions was observed at 15:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between
550 and 766 km/s under the influence of a decaying high speed stream. The planetary
A index was 24.
Monday, August 25:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels. Today's activity
was initially at active levels in response to a high speed solar wind stream.
Activity increased to minor storm levels from 06:00-09:00 UTC, but then backed
off to mostly unsettled levels from 09:00 UTC through the end of the day. Solar
wind speed ranged between 552 and 749 km/s, the planetary A index was 21.
Tuesday, August 26:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Solar wind speed ranged between 471
and 572 km/s, the planetary A index was 14.
Wednesday, August 27:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Solar wind speed ranged between 418
and 532 km/s, the planetary A index was 13.
Thursday, August 28:
The geomagnetic field was unsettled to active. Solar wind speed ranged between
400 and 489 km/s, probably under the influence of a weak coronal stream. The
planetary A index was 18.
Friday, August 29:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Solar wind speed ranged between 427
and 677 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 15.
Saturday, August 30:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to minor storm. Solar wind speed ranged between
485 and 641 km/s, the planetary A index was 17.
July 2003
Tuesday, July 1:
The geomagnetic field was at mostly quiet to unsettled levels, but there was an
active period from 03:00-06:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 538 and 735 km/s under the weakening influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 13.
Wednesday, July 2:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind conditions were nominal
until about 18:00 UTC when an increase was observed in speed and temperature
and a decrease was observed in density. This might indicate the onset of the
anticipated high speed solar wind stream. Solar wind speed ranged between 452 and 617 km/s, the planetary A index was 15.
Thursday, July 3:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to active levels. Solar wind speeds
increased up to around 600 km/s at 23:00 UTC on July 2, but dropped down to
500-550 km/s from 01:00-19:00 UTC. However, there appears to be another solar
wind speed increase in progress at this time. Solar wind speed ranged between
478 and
690 km/s, the planetary A index was 17.
Friday, July 4:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels. Two periods
of minor storming occurred one at 06:00 UTC and another at 12:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 649 and 815 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 25.
Saturday, July 5:
The geomagnetic field has been at unsettled to active levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 645 and 802 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. A sudden increase in solar wind speed near 10:10 UTC at ACE and atypical
(for a high speed stream) development of other solar wind data - including the
total field of the interplanetary magnetic field - indicate the presence of
a CME embedded within the coronal hole flow. The most likely origin would be
a CME associated with the M3 flare in region 397 on July 2. The planetary A
index was 17.
Sunday, July 6:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 616 and 750 km/s. A solar wind disturbance was observed at
12:25 UTC at ACE. Initially there was only a minor increase in solar wind speed
and a more distinct increase in the total field of the interplanetary magnetic
field. The source of the disturbance is uncertain but does not appear to be
a coronal hole flow. The planetary A index was 12.
Monday, July 7:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Elevated solar wind speeds
and periods of sustained southward Bz allowed for the observed intervals of
isolated active conditions. Solar wind speed ranged between 457 and 738 km/s, generally decreasing all day. The planetary A index was 14.
Tuesday, July 8:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 439 and 545 km/s, the planetary A index was 5.
Wednesday, July 9:
The geomagnetic field was quiet. Solar wind speed ranged between 379 and 485
km/s. A weak solar wind disturbance was observed at ACE after
18:00 UTC. Between 18:00 and 19:00 UTC solar wind speed increased from 380 to
450 km/s and solar wind density increased from 3 to 10 particles/cm3. While
density has since stayed near 10 p/cm3, solar wind speed has decreased and is
early on July 10 near 360 km/s. The planetary A index was 6.
Thursday, July 10:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. The solar wind disturbance which began after 18:00 UTC on July 9 intensified after 16:00 UTC and the interplanetary magnetic field has since been moderately strongly southwards. The planetary A index was 8.
Friday, July 11:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to major storm levels. An extended period
of southward Bz(-10 nT) led to the elevated conditions. A high speed coronal
stream arrived at ACE at about 13:00 UTC. Until about 18:00 UTC the solar wind
disturbance was a combination of the early effects from the coronal hole flow
and the prior strong disturbance. The low speed disturbance which dominated
the first half of the day intensified gradually and peaked at major storm levels
between 08:00 and
09:00 UTC. Taking into account the low solar wind speed and events over the
recent days, the most likely source of the disturbance may have been a large
filament eruption (and CME) near the northwest limb, or an M-class flare with
an associated CME in Region 400, both events occurred on July 6. Solar wind
speed ranged between 347 and 706 km/s, the planetary A index was 46.
Tuesday, July 15:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels. An
initially active geomagnetic field reached minor storm levels from
00:00-06:00 UTC. Active to minor storm levels were also observed
between 09:00-12:00 UTC. Conditions have been unsettled since 12:00
UTC. A solar wind disturbance which was observed beginning at ACE at 21:50 UTC on July 14 intensified early on June 15. Its most likely source is a filament eruption and an associated CME observed on July 11. A high speed coronal stream arrived at approximately 19:00 UTC on June 15 at ACE. Solar wind speed ranged between 548 and 612 km/s, the planetary A index was 27.
Wednesday, July 16:
The geomagnetic field ranged from active to major storm levels. An initially
active field attained storm levels after 03:00 UTC and continued at storm levels
through 15:00 UTC. Conditions returned to active levels from 15:00 UTC through
the end of the period. The increase in activity was associated with a slight
increase in solar wind speed (600 to 650 km/s) and a noticeable increase in
total magnetic field in the solar wind (ranging from 10 to 15 nT). The solar
wind signatures are consistent for the most part with a high speed solar wind
stream originating from a favorably positioned coronal hole. There
may have been other sources contributing to the disturbance as well, particularly
between 06:00 and 19:00 UTC when ACE solar wind data was somewhat atypical for
a high speed stream. Solar wind speed ranged between 531 and 708 km/s, the planetary
A index was 48.
Thursday, July 17:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels. Today's solar
wind continues to show the presence of a high speed coronal hole solar wind
stream. Solar wind speed ranged between 567 and 771 km/s, the planetary A index
was 22.
Monday, July 21:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. The field responded to
the declining solar wind speed by returning to mostly quiet levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 400 and 668 km/s, the planetary A index was 12.
Tuesday, July 22:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 407 and 505 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Wednesday, July 23:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels. A fairly weak disturbance
was observed at ACE beginning at 14:00 UTC when the interplanetary magnetic
field suddenly swung moderately southwards and remained weakly to moderately
southwards to the end of the day. The arrival of this disturbance was associated
with an increase in solar wind speed from approximately 400 km/s to above 500
km/s. A possible source could be the partial halo CME observed on July 19. Solar
wind speed ranged between 366 and 573 km/s, the planetary A index was 11.
Friday, July 25:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 311 and 388 km/s, the planetary A index is estimated at 11.
Saturday, July 26:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speeds
began to increase today after 18:30 UTC from around 400 km/s to above
560 km/s, with a sustained southward Bz. The probable source of this high speed
stream is a E-W oriented coronal hole which is now rotating into a geoeffective
location.
Sunday, July 27:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. A recurrent high speed
coronal hole stream and a sustained southward Bz are believed responsible for
the elevated activity. The solar wind speed exceeded 800 km/s at approximately
06:00 UTC. NASA/ACE data also indicates a possible transient passage very early
in the period. Solar wind speed ranged between 591 and 851 km/s, the planetary
A index was 24.
Monday, July 28:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. A recurrent high speed
coronal hole stream is believed to be responsible for the elevated conditions.
Solar wind speed ranged between 521 and 839 km/s, the planetary A index was
17.
Tuesday, July 29:
The geomagnetic field was at predominantly active to minor storm levels. Solar
wind speed ranged between 695 and 917 km/s, the planetary A index
was 36. A period of major storm conditions were observed at the Boulder magnetometer
between 03:00 and 06:00 UTC. The elevated activity is in response to a recurrent
coronal hole high speed solar wind stream. This coronal hole has been with us
at least since October 2002 in various shapes. During this solar rotation it
is at its most impressive with an exceptionally high maximum solar wind speed.
Wednesday, July 30:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. A recurrent high
speed coronal hole stream remains geoeffective. Solar wind speed ranged between
701 and 980 km/s, the planetary A index was 29.
Thursday, July 31:
The geomagnetic field was at predominantly active to minor storm levels. The
recurrent high speed coronal hole stream continues to be geoeffective. Solar
wind speed ranged between 752 and 962 km/s, the planetary A index was 32.
June 2003
Sunday, June 1:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. A high speed coronal stream
arrived early in the day and strengthened gradually. Solar wind speed ranged
between 560 and 708 km/s, the planetary A index was 19.
Monday, June 2:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to major storm levels. The most
disturbed periods were from 06:00 to 12:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between
586 and 767 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 39.
Tuesday, June 3:
The geomagnetic field was mostly unsettled to active. Isolated minor storm periods
occurred from 09:00-12:00 UTC and from 21:00-24:00 UTC. Solar wind data continue
to indicate the presence of a high speed wind stream, which is due to a favorably
positioned coronal hole. Solar wind speed ranged between 690 and 881 km/s, the
planetary A index was 26.
Wednesday, June 4:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 668 and 854 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream.
The planetary A index was 21.
Thursday, June 5:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 461 and 750 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream.
The planetary A index was 13.
Friday, June 6:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 482 and 703 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 13.
Saturday, June 7:
The geomagnetic field was at active to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 573 and 758 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 24.
Sunday, June 8:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 609 and 767 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 27.
Monday, June 9:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to major storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 577 and 754 km/s, mainly under the influence of a high speed
coronal stream. A CME embedded within the coronal hole flow may have arrived
after 11:00 UTC and caused an increase in geomagnetic activity late in the day.
The planetary A index was 28.
Tuesday, June 10:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to major storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 600 and 764 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 27.
Wednesday, June 11:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 561 and 751 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream
until about 16:00 UTC when the stream appeared to be ending. The planetary A
index was 15.
Thursday, June 12:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 456 and 567 km/s, the planetary A index was 11.
Friday, June 13:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed began increasing after 17:00 UTC as a high coronal speed stream began to dominate the solar wind. Solar wind speed ranged between 370 and 476 km/s, the planetary A index was 11.
Saturday, June 14:
The geomagnetic field was at active to major storm levels. The onset of the
expected coronal hole was marked by a co-rotating interacting region with solar
wind speed increasing to near 600 km/s and a 12 hour period of minor storm levels.
Late in the period indications of a possible shock passage at the NASA/ACE spacecraft
coincided with a major storm period. The interplanetary magnetic field was mostly
northwards for the remainder of the day. Solar wind speed ranged between 447
and
621 km/s, the planetary A index was 32.
Sunday, June 15:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. The high speed
coronal stream ended early in the evening. At about 19:00 UTC a new and short
lived disturbance arrived as solar wind speed increased and ACE EPAM data indicated
the arrival of a CME. This disturbance has not been particularly geoeffective
so far with the interplanetary magnetic field nearly constantly northwards.
Solar wind speed ranged between 473 and 583 km/s, the planetary A index was
20.
Monday, June 16:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to major storm levels. While the disturbance which arrived at approximately 19:00 UTC on June 15 was not very impressive during the first hours after its arrival, the geomagnetic effects increased early on June 16 with minor storming observed. Activity decreased after noon but then another disturbance arrived. Both solar wind speed and the total field of the interplanetary magnetic field increased suddenly near 16:45 UTC. By 19:00 UTC solar wind speed had increased from 450 to 550 km/s and later on leveled out between 520 and 540 km/s. The new disturbance caused an increase in geomagnetic activity levels with major storming observed late in the day. Solar wind speed ranged between 430 and 578 km/s, the planetary A index was 32.
Tuesday, June 17:
The geomagnetic field was at active to major storm levels. A six-hour period
of southward Bz, from 06:00 - 09:00 UTC combined with elevated solar wind speed
near 510 km/s produced minor and major storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 453 and 554 km/s, the planetary A index was 50.
Wednesday, June 18:
The geomagnetic field was at predominantly minor to major storm levels with
an isolated period of severe storm conditions seen at high latitudes between
06:00 and 09:00 UTC. A moderately strong solar wind shock was observed at SOHO
at 04:44 UTC. The interplanetary magnetic field was mostly moderately to strongly
southwards for several hours after the shock and this caused major to severe
geomagnetic storming lasting until noon. The source of this shock is likely
the full halo CME observed on June 15/16. A high speed coronal stream dominated
the solar wind after 15:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 417 and 665
km/sec, the planetary
A index was 54.
Thursday, June 19:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Minor storm conditions
were observed at both middle and high latitudes between 00:00 and 03:00 UTC
due to the influence of a recurrent high speed coronal hole stream. Solar wind
speed ranged between 489 and 644 km/s, the planetary A index was 18.
Friday, June 20:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. A weak solar wind shock was observed at SOHO at 07:59 UTC. This was likely the arrival of the full halo CME observed on June 17. Just after the arrival of the CME the interplanetary magnetic field swung southwards for a short time but then returned northwards and stayed mostly northwards for the remainder of the day. Solar wind speed ranged between 475 and 604 km/s, the planetary A index was 12.
Saturday, June 21:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 472 and 564 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. Sustained periods of southward Bz along with elevated solar wind speeds
led to the occasional storming conditions.
The planetary A index was 23.
Sunday, June 22:
The geomagnetic field was unsettled to active on June 22. Solar wind speed ranged between 453 and 581 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 16.
Monday, June 23:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels with an isolated minor
storm period between 03:00-06:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 453 and
583 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A
index was 20.
Tuesday, June 24:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to minor storm levels. Active to minor
storm levels were predominant during local nighttime hours. Solar wind speed ranged between 467 and 580 km/s under the influence of a high speed stream. The planetary A index was 31.
Wednesday, June 25:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 510 and 576 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 19.
Thursday, June 26:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 477 and 686 km/s. A high speed coronal stream arrived at ACE just before noon with solar wind speed increasing to near 700 km/s. The planetary A index was 19.
Friday, June 27:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to major storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 611 and 768 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 28.
Saturday, June 28:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to major storm levels. The magnetosphere
remained under the influence of a high speed stream emanating from the large
coronal hole in the western solar hemisphere. Solar wind speed ranged between 609 and 763 km/s, the planetary A index was 32.
Sunday, June 29:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 655 and 779 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 26.
Monday, June 30:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels. The disturbance
is due to a high speed solar wind stream associated with a well-positioned solar
coronal hole. Solar wind speed ranged between 673 and 791 km/s, the planetary A index was 20.
May 2003
Thursday, May 1:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to major storm levels. Periods of southward
Bz combined with the elevated wind speed has produce minor storming and one
period of major storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 575 and
715 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The stream was
weakening slowly towards the end of the day. The planetary A index was 40.
Friday, May 2:
The geomagnetic field was at mostly quiet to unsettled levels with a single
minor storm interval 03:00-06:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 480 and
611 km/s under the decreasing influence of a high speed coronal stream. The
planetary A index was 17.
Saturday, May 3:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 445 and 552 km/s, the planetary A index was 10.
Sunday, May 4:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels. The apparent onset
of a high speed coronal hole stream was observed at ACE near
14:30 UTC. The interplanetary magnetic field has since been mostly northwards
or weakly southwards. The major part of the disturbance has not yet arrived.
Solar wind speed ranged between 350 and 449 km/s, the planetary A index was
7.
Monday, May 5:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 413 and 679 km/s, increasingly under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 12.
Tuesday, May 6:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 566 and 780 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream.
The planetary A index was 23.
Wednesday, May 7:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to major storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 600 and 769 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 36.
Thursday, May 8:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 639 and 786 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 30.
Friday, May 9:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 665 and 986 km/s. Early in the day a high speed coronal stream dominated the solar wind, then, at 04:49 UTC at SOHO, an unusual disturbance arrived. Solar wind speed in the 750 to near 1000 km/s range was recorded until about 11:00 UTC. The source of this disturbance is at this time not obvious. The geomagnetic disturbance intensified strongly early on May 10 and reached major storm level. The planetary A index was 29.
Saturday, May 10:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to major storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 505 and 769 km/s. The disturbance which began on May 9 decreased in
intensity after 11:00 UTC and was gradually replaced by a high speed coronal
stream. While the source of the disturbance is not obvious, close examination
of SXI images on May 7 revealed a filament eruption beginning at approximately
14:00 UTC. The planetary A index was 43.
Sunday, May 11:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to major storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 552 and 712 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 31.
Monday, May 12:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 584 and 760 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 18.
Tuesday, May 13:
The geomagnetic field was mostly active on May 13 with a single unsettled interval 03:00-06:00 UTC and a minor storm interval 09:00-12:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 607 and 787 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 27.
Wednesday, May 14:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 630 and 776 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 27.
Thursday, May 15:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 586 and 751 km/s under the influence of a slowly diminishing high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 23.
Friday, May 16:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 504 and 656 km/s, the high speed coronal stream ended early in the day. The planetary A index was 9.
Saturday, May 17:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 449 and 563 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Sunday, May 18:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 383 and 468 km/s. A slow increase in solar wind speed was observed after 15:00 UTC as a fairly weak high speed coronal stream began to dominate the solar wind. The planetary A index was 10.
Monday, May 19:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 382 and 448 km/s under the influence of a fairly weak high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 12.
Tuesday, May 20:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 379 and 454 km/s under the influence of a weak high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 12.
Wednesday, May 21:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 353 and 563 km/s. A high speed coronal stream arrived at approximately 11:00 UTC at ACE and dominated the solar wind for the remainder of the day. The planetary A index was 20.
Thursday, May 22:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 451 and 528 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 25.
Friday, May 23:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 443 and 509 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 21.
Saturday, May 24:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 431 and 581 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 23.
Sunday, May 25:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 473 and 631 km/s, peaking early in the day under the influence of a
high speed coronal stream. The coronal hole flow appeared to be ending late
on
May 25. The planetary A index was 22.
Monday, May 26:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 440 and 539 km/s. A high speed coronal stream was observed beginning at ACE at approximately 23:30 UTC. The planetary A index was 18.
Tuesday, May 27:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 452 and 646 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 26.
Wednesday, May 28:
The geomagnetic field was at active to major storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 585 and 716 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The stream weakened during the latter half of the day. The planetary
A index was 36.
Thursday, May 29:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to very severe
storm levels on May 29. A recurrent coronal hole was responsible for
the initial elevated conditions.
A solar wind shock was observed at 11:52 UTC at SOHO with a sudden increase
in solar wind speed from 567 to 689 km/s. The source of this disturbance was
likely a full halo CME (transit time: 53 hours) observed after a long duration
M1.6 event on May 27. Another and very strong solar wind shock was observed
at 18:34 UTC when solar wind speed increased abruptly from 691 to 763 km/s.
This shock was caused by the arrival of the 2 halo CME's (transit time: 43-44
hours) observed after the X1 flare late on May 27 and X3 flare early on May
28. The interplanetary magnetic field was soon after the arrival of this disturbance
extremely strongly southwards and caused very severe geomagnetic storm conditions
with the planetary A index for the 21-24h UTC interval reaching 231. Solar wind
speed ranged between 565 and 814 km/s, the planetary A index was 89.
Friday, May 30:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to very severe
storm levels. The field was mostly unsettled to active since about 06:00
UTC with a single minor storm period from 15:00-18:00 UTC. The CME associated
with the X1 flare early on 29 May was apparently observed to encounter the ACE
spacecraft at about
16:00 UTC with an abrupt increase in solar wind speed from 610 to 770 km/s.
The shock in solar wind parameters was not strong and an SI was not clearly
observed by ground magnetometers. The interplanetary magnetic field, having
been mostly northwards since 02:00 UTC, swung strongly southwards at first,
then became northwards again and weakened towards the end of the day. Solar
wind speed ranged between 558 and
782 km/s, the planetary A index was 49.
Saturday, May 31:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to major storm levels. The most disturbed
period occurred from 03:00-06:00 UTC and has since been quiet to unsettled at
most locations. Solar wind speed ranged between 555 and 775 km/s, the planetary
A index was 17.
April 2003
Tuesday, April 1:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels, with occasional
major storming at high latitudes. The high speed stream that began early on
March 30 continued during the period. Solar wind speed ranged between 452
and
561 km/s, the planetary A index was 12.
Wednesday, April 2:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. The high speed stream
that began on March 30 has gained slightly in strength to nearly 580 km/s.
Intermittently southward Bz has generated disturbed periods. Solar wind speed
ranged between 446 and 555 km/s, the planetary A index was 20.
Thursday, April 3:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. The high speed stream
which began on March 30 is subsiding, but continued instability in the interplanetary
magnetic field is maintaining our unsettled activity levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 435 and 482 km/s, the planetary A index was 14.
Friday, April 4:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels with periods of minor
storming due to the continued influence of a high-speed solar wind stream.
Solar wind speed ranged between 459 and 509 km/s, the planetary A index was
26.
Saturday, April 5:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels with one period of
minor storm conditions. Solar wind speed ranged between 443 and 541 km/s under
the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 23.
Sunday, April 6:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled conditions. High speed stream
effects have diminished. Solar wind speed ranged between 369 and 550 km/s,
slowly decreasing all day. The planetary A index was 9.
Monday, April 7:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 349 and 378 km/s. The planetary A index was 6.
Tuesday, April 8:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. A solar wind shock
was observed at SOHO at 00:03 UTC. The source of this shock is likely a CME
observed after an M2 event on April 4. The interplanetary magnetic field was
moderately southwards after the shock and this caused an increase in geomagnetic
disturbance levels to minor storm. Solar wind speed ranged between 353 and
481 km/s, the planetary A index was 20.
Wednesday, April 9:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. A high speed coronal
stream began to dominate the solar wind after 17:00 UTC, prior to that the
disturbance which began on April 8 appears to have mixed with another high
speed coronal stream. Solar wind speed ranged between 393 and 510 km/s, the
planetary
A index was 25.
Thursday, April 10:
The geomagnetic field was at mostly active to minor storm levels. Solar wind
speed ranged between 496 and 722 km/s, gradually increasing all day under
the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 26.
Friday, April 11:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 536 and 748 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal stream.
Wind speed generally decreased throughout the day. The planetary A index was
14.
Saturday, April 12:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
509 and 690 km/s under the influence of a fairly benign high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 7.
Sunday, April 13:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
444 and 561 km/s, the planetary A index was 10.
Monday, April 14:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to active levels, with a period of
minor storm conditions at high latitudes from 12:00-15:00 UTC. The enhanced
activity was associated with an extended interval of moderately strong (-5
to -10 nT) southward orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field Bz component
between 11:00-15:00 UTC. Solar wind speed and temperature showed a gradual
increasing trend, which may indicate the beginning of a high speed coronal
stream. Solar wind speed ranged between 458 and 623 km/s, the planetary A
index was 16.
Tuesday, April 15:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 519 and 630 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 22.
Wednesday, April 16:
The geomagnetic field was mostly unsettled to active during the past 24 hours
with a minor to major storm period from 09:00-12:00 UTC and a minor storm
period at high latitudes from 18:00-21:00 UTC. The coronal-hole induced high
speed solar wind flow continues. Solar wind speed ranged between 589 and 774
km/s, the planetary A index was 31.
Thursday, April 17:
The geomagnetic field was mostly unsettled to active during the past 24 hours
with a minor storm period from 03:00-09:00 UTC in the mid latitudes, and a
minor storm period at high latitudes from both 03:00-12:00 UTC and 15:00-18:00
UTC. The coronal-hole induced high speed solar wind flow continues. Solar
wind speed ranged between 608 and 768 km/s, the planetary A index was 30.
Friday, April 18:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. The coronal
hole induced high speed solar wind stream continues. Solar wind speed ranged
between 572 and 699 km/s, the planetary A index was 20.
Saturday, April 19:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 531 and 681 km/s under the decreasing influence of a high speed
coronal stream. The planetary A index is estimated at 12.
Sunday, April 20:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to active levels. A high speed coronal
stream reached ACE at about 21:30 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between
462 and 563 km/s, the planetary
A index was 16.
Monday, April 21:
The geomagnetic field was at predominantly unsettled to active
levels with isolated high latitude minor storm periods. A high speed solar
wind stream continues to buffet the geomagnetic field. Solar wind speed ranged
between 481 and
579 km/s , the planetary A index was 21.
Tuesday, April 22:
The geomagnetic field was unsettled to active. A high speed solar wind stream
that began early on April 21 continues. Solar wind speed ranged between 481
and 627 km/s, the planetary A index was 22.
Wednesday, April 23:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to active levels with isolated minor
storm periods at high latitudes. Solar wind speed ranged between
454 and 565 km/s, the planetary A index was 18.
Thursday, April 24:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels with isolated minor
storm periods at high latitudes. A high speed coronal stream began to dominate
the solar wind after about 04:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 432
and
585 km/s, the planetary A index was 24.
Friday, April 25:
The geomagnetic field was at predominantly active to minor storm levels. High
speed solar wind speeds along with embedded transient activity are believed
to be responsible for the elevated conditions. The coronal stream appeared
to be ending late in the day. Solar wind speed ranged between 467 and 595
km/s, the planetary A index was 32.
Saturday, April 26:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 415 and 483 km/s, the planetary A index was 15.
Sunday, April 27:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 429 and 552 km/s under the influence of a weaker than expected high
speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 15.
Monday, April 28:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 400 and 546 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
stream for the first half of the day. A solar wind disturbance was observed
at SOHO at 18:40 UTC with a sudden increase in solar wind speed from 414 to
456 km/s and a sudden increase in the total field of the interplanetary magnetic
field. This disturbance may have been associated with the arrival of the leading
edge of the full halo CME observed on April 25 from an origin near the northeast
limb.
The planetary A index was 20.
Tuesday, April 29:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Following the arrival
of a CME based disturbance at 18:40 UTC on April 28, the interplanetary magnetic
field continued mostly northwards during the first half of the day. Then from
noon until 22:00 UTC the IMF swung gradually stronger southwards causing an
increase in the geomagnetic disturbance level to minor storm. Another disturbance,
this time a high speed coronal stream, may have arrived after 19:00 UTC. Solar
wind speed ranged between 358 and 629 km/s, the planetary A index was 20.
Wednesday, April 30:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to major storm levels. Most of the activity
was at active to minor storm levels. Periods of southward Bz early in the day
resulted in an isolated period of major storm levels. The interplanetary magnetic field appeared to be under the combined influence of a high speed coronal stream and the CME based disturbance which dominated the IMF on April 29. Solar wind speed ranged between 490 and 684 km/s, the planetary A index was 40.
March 2003
Saturday, March 1:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels due to a high speed coronal
hole stream. Solar wind speed ranged between 377 and 449 km/s, the planetary
A index was 14.
Sunday, March 2:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels due to a high speed coronal
hole stream. Solar wind speed ranged between 351 and 426 km/s, the planetary
A index was 14.
Monday, March 3:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 350 and 501 km/s. A high speed coronal hole stream began to influence
the solar wind from approximately 08:00 UTC with a slow and gradual increase
in solar wind speed observed since then. The interplanetary magnetic field
was occasionally strongly southwards after 14:30 UTC. The planetary A index
was 15.
Tuesday, March 4:
The geomagnetic field was unsettled to active with isolated minor storm periods
at high latitudes. This disturbance is due to a high speed coronal hole stream
that began late on March 3. Solar wind speed ranged between 419 and 572 km/s,
the planetary A index was 26.
Wednesday, March 5:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Mostly unsettled conditions prevailed
early in the period in response to a waning high speed coronal hole stream.
Solar wind data indicated another high speed stream onset at around
13:00 UTC, preceded by a weak co-rotating interaction region. Isolated active
periods were observed at all latitudes. Solar wind speed ranged between 441
and 556 km/s, the planetary A index was 16.
Thursday, March 6:
The geomagnetic field was unsettled to active with isolated, high latitude
minor storm periods. Solar wind speed ranged between 462 and 569 km/s under
the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 25.
Friday, March 7:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Isolated active periods were observed
during local nighttime hours at all latitudes. The high speed coronal hole
stream responsible for the disturbed periods over the past few days has gradually
declined to near normal levels. Solar wind speed ranged between 420 and 552
km/s, the planetary A index was 14.
Saturday, March 8:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to unsettled levels. There was an
isolated active period at mid latitudes in response to a southward oscillation
in the Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field between 15:00-18:00
UTC. The coronal hole high speed stream that has been geoeffective for the
past several days appears to have rotated out of its favorable position early
in the period. Solar wind speed ranged between 393 and 451 km/s, the planetary
A index was 9.
Sunday, March 9:
The geomagnetic field was at predominantly quiet to unsettled levels. Isolated
active conditions were observed at middle and high latitudes early in the
period due southward oscillations in the Bz component of the interplanetary
magnetic field. Solar wind speed ranged between 370 and 440 km/s, the planetary
A index was 11.
Monday, March 10:
The geomagnetic field was at predominantly quiet to unsettled levels. An isolated
active period occurred at mid and high latitudes between 12:00 and 15:00 UTC.
Solar wind speed ranged between 371 and 428 km/s, the planetary A index was
16.
Tuesday, March 11:
The geomagnetic field was at predominantly quiet to unsettled levels. Isolated
active periods were observed at both middle and high latitudes during the
interval. A solar wind disturbance arrived at SOHO near 16h UTC but did not
cause a significant change in geomagnetic activity. Solar wind speed ranged
between 365 and 501 km/s, the planetary A index was 13.
Wednesday, March 12:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 401 and 552 km/s. A high speed stream appears to have been in progress
since just after 22:00 UTC at ACE. The planetary A index was 9.
Thursday, March 13:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Two separate periods
of isolated active conditions were observed due to Bz fluctuations near -10
nT. Solar wind speed ranged between 427 and 509 km/s, the planetary A index
was 15.
Friday, March 14:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to major storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 468 and 667 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
hole stream. Some high latitude stations recorded major to severe storm conditions
between 11:00-14:00 UTC. While magnetometers at all other latitudes recorded
unsettled to active conditions at the same time, the storm conditions at high
latitudes caused the planetary A index to reach 63 during the 12:00-15:00
UTC interval. The planetary A index was 25.
Saturday, March 15:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 571 and 702 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
hole stream. The planetary A index was 24.
Sunday, March 16:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 583 and 747 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
hole stream. The planetary A index was 23.
Monday, March 17:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to major storm levels under the
influence of a coronal hole high-speed stream. Solar wind speed ranged between
602 and 831 km/s, the planetary A index was 39.
Tuesday, March 18:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels as the coronal
hole induced disturbance continued. Solar wind speed ranged between 627 and
834 km/s, the planetary A index was 26.
Wednesday, March 19:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. The coronal hole high-speed stream
appears to be waning. Solar wind speed ranged between 578 and
770 km/s, the planetary A index was 14.
Thursday, March 20:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels, with a minor storm period
at high latitudes from 09:00-12:00 UTC. A solar wind shock was observed at
ACE at 04:22 UTC. Solar wind speed increased abruptly to near 800 km/sec.
The cause of the shock was likely a halo CME observed after the X1 flare in
region 314 at 12:00 UTC on March 18. The effects of the CME appeared to be
ending before midnight and was replaced by a high speed coronal hole stream.
Solar wind speed ranged between 578 and 813 km/s, the planetary A index was
21.
Friday, March 21:
Geomagnetic activity has ranged from quiet to minor storm levels. High speed
solar wind and strong interplanetary magnetic field conditions led to minor
storm activity from 00:00 to 12:00 UTC. Activity decreased to active levels
from 12:00 to 15:00 UTC, and unsettled thereafter. Solar wind speed ranged
between 609 and
755 km/s, the planetary A index was 29.
Saturday, March 22:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active conditions. The solar wind
speed has shown a slow, yet steady decrease during the interval as a favorably
positioned coronal hole enters into its waning stage. Solar wind speed ranged
between 559 and 714 km/s, the planetary A index was 16.
Sunday, March 23:
The geomagnetic field was mostly unsettled to active. There was a period of
storm level activity from 09:00-12:00 UTC, with minor storm levels at mid-latitudes
and major storm levels at high latitudes. The activity was caused by high
speed solar wind accompanied by frequent negative and positive fluctuations
of Z-component of the interplanetary magnetic field. Solar wind speed ranged
between 565 and
713 km/s, the planetary A index was 24.
Monday, March 24:
The geomagnetic field was at predominantly quiet to unsettled levels. An isolated
active period was observed at high latitudes between 06:00 and
09:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 461 and 642 km/s, generally decreasing
all day as a high speed stream ended. The planetary A index was 10.
Tuesday, March 25:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels. Solar wind density has increased
slowly since about 09:00 UTC and the expected high speed stream could arrive
within hours. Solar wind speed ranged between 359 and 464 km/s, the planetary
A index was 6.
Wednesday, March 26:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. The Boulder magnetometer
recorded an active period between 03:00 and 06:00 UTC.
A fairly weak coronal hole stream began to influence the geomagnetic field
early in the day. While solar wind parameters were not fully consistent with
a coronal hole stream early in the day, the disturbance had a more obvious
coronal hole origin later on. Solar wind speed ranged between 349 and 430
km/s, the planetary A index was 8.
Thursday, March 27:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to minor storm levels. The Bz component
of the interplanetary magnetic field ranged from +/- 10 nT throughout the
period due to a recurrent high speed stream. Solar wind speed ranged between
405 and 549 km/s, the planetary A index was 27.
Friday, March 28:
The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet to active with isolated minor storm
periods during local nighttime hours. The most active conditions early in
the period were due to a waning high speed coronal hole stream. A weak transient
passed the ACE spacecraft between 14:00 - 15:00 UTC. Predominantly southward
Bz in the IMF resulted in active levels late in the period. Solar wind speed
ranged between
456 and 538 km/s, the planetary A index was 24.
Saturday, March 29:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind
speed ranged between 366 and 478 km/s. A disturbance which began during the
latter half of March 28 continued until about 16:00 UTC when a high speed
coronal stream began to dominate the solar wind. Solar wind speed has been
increasing slowly since the onset of the stream. The planetary A index was
27.
Sunday, March 30:
The geomagnetic field was unsettled to active with isolated minor storm periods
at high latitudes. Solar wind signatures early this period indicate a transition
from transient flow to a high speed coronal hole stream. Solar wind speed
ranged between 425 and 663 km/s, the planetary A index was 26.
Monday, March 31:
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to minor storm levels, with occasional
major storm periods at high latitudes. The high speed stream that began early
on March 30 continues. An extended period of southward Bz that began at around
11:00 UTC, has continued through the end of the period and was responsible
for the most disturbed periods. Solar wind speed ranged between 459 and 647
km/s, the planetary A index was 31.
FEBRUARY 2003
Saturday, February 1:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to minor storm. Solar wind speed ranged between
338 and 971 km/s. An unusual solar storm arrived at SOHO near 13:10 UTC. This
storm is unusual in that solar wind speed was very low at the time of its
arrival and had some of the highest peak solar wind speeds recorded during
this
solar cycle. At solar wind shock the velocity jumped abruptly from 390 to
520 km/s, then increased slowly to 600 km/s. By 16h UTC solar wind speed had
peaked just below
1000 km/s. The interplanetary magnetic field was mostly northwards for the
remainder of the day. Early on February 2 solar wind speed has decreased to
below 600 km/s. The planetary A index was 13.
Sunday, February 2:
The geomagnetic field ranged from active to minor storm levels with a period
of major storm levels at high latitudes from 12:00-15:00 UTC. Occasional periods
of southward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field were associated
with times of enhanced geomagnetic activity. Solar wind speed ranged between
388 and
597 km/s, the planetary A index was 45.
Monday, February 3:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 455 and 543 km/s. A coronal stream began to dominate the solar
wind after 07:00 UTC. The planetary A index was 19.
Tuesday, February 4:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 472 and 684 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. The
planetary A index was 24.
Wednesday, February 5:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 489 and 667 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 12.
Thursday, February 6:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Solar wind speed ranged between
452 and 553 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary A
index was 16.
Friday, February 7:
The geomagnetic field was at predominately quiet to unsettled levels. High
latitudes experienced an isolated active period from 12:00 to 15:00 UTC. Solar
wind speed ranged between 447 and 559 km/s under the influence of a coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 13.
Saturday, February 8:
The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet to unsettled with an isolated active
period between 12:00 - 15:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 458 and
553 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary A index was
13.
Sunday, February 9:
The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet to unsettled with isolated active periods.
Solar wind conditions were at near nominal levels, but periods of weak southward
IMF Bz yielded the occasional active periods. Solar wind speed ranged between
420 and 521 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 15.
Monday, February 10:
The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet to unsettled with active periods at
all latitudes between 03:00 - 09:00 UTC. A slightly elevated solar wind velocity
and southward turning in the interplanetary magnetic field account for the
most disturbed periods. Solar wind speed ranged between 411 and 463 km/s under
the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary A index was 16.
Tuesday, February 11:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled with a single active period at
higher latitudes between 00:00 - 03:00 UTC. Solar wind conditions, slightly
elevated in recent days, have declined to normal levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 351 and 447 km/s, the planetary A index was 12.
Wednesday, February 12:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. A single isolated active period
was observed at higher latitudes between 15:00 to 18:00 UTC. Solar wind speed
ranged between 346 and 397 km/s, the planetary A index was 12.
Thursday, February 13:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. A weak disturbance
was in progress most of the day. Even with the interplanetary magnetic field
being moderately southwards at times, this didn't cause any increase in geomagnetic
activity. During the first hours of February 14 a coronal stream has begun
influencing the geomagnetic field causing unsettled to active conditions.
Solar wind speed ranged between 350 and 414 km/s, the planetary A index was
8.
Friday, February 14:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 365 and 563 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. Early in
the period the solar wind speed began a gradual increase to a current 500
km/s rise, this, along with frequent periods of southward Bz allowed for the
active conditions. The planetary A index was 19.
Saturday, February 15:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 471 and 656 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 18.
Sunday, February 16:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Coronal hole effects
continue with solar wind gradually increasing to near 650 km/s and Bz continuing
to be, on average, slightly southward. Major storming conditions were observed
at higher latitudes. Solar wind speed ranged between 547 and 680 km/s, the
planetary A index was 15.
Monday, February 17:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Coronal hole effects
continue to keep solar wind elevated between 561 and 755 km/s and Bz continues
to be, on average, slightly negative. The planetary A index was 11.
Tuesday, February 18:
The geomagnetic field has been at quiet to minor storm levels.
A transient passage was observed late on February 17. The transient resulted
in an increase in solar wind speed to over 700 km/s and combined with fluctuating
southward Bz was the source of minor storm conditions measured at the Boulder
magnetometer.
At about 04:00 UTC on February 18, the solar wind became very structured and
was marked by a northward turning Bz and a gradual decline in solar wind speed
to current levels near 600 km/s. The source of the shock is not obvious but
reexamination of LASCO C3 movies hints at the possibility of a faint full
halo CME late on February 16. Solar wind speed ranged between 556 and 954
km/s, the planetary A index was 17.
Wednesday, February 19:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. The transient effects
that began yesterday, and produced a structured solar wind, appear to be ending.
At 14:00 UTC, the steady decline in solar wind velocity reached a minimum
near 500 km/s. Solar wind velocity has since increased to 560 km/s. Bz show
signs of returning to the fluctuating signature of a high speed stream. Solar
wind speed ranged between 489 and 648 km/s, the planetary A index was 12.
Thursday, February 20:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 517 and 755 km/s under the influence of a high speed coronal
wind stream. The planetary A index was 16.
Friday, February 21:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. The disturbed periods
are due to a declining high speed solar wind stream. Solar wind speed ranged
between 501 and 639 km/s, the planetary A index was 13.
Saturday, February 22:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active. Remnants of the high-speed stream
persist, generating short-lived episodes of active conditions. Solar wind
speed ranged between 507 and 631 km/s, the planetary A index was 11.
Sunday, February 23:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 496 and 640 km/s under the influence of a high speed stream. Wind
speed decreased slowly during the day. The planetary A index was 11.
Monday, February 24:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 439 and 553 km/s, gradually decreasing all day. The planetary A index
was 6.
Tuesday, February 25:
The geomagnetic field was quiet. Solar wind speed ranged between 362 and 452
km/s, the planetary A index was 5.
Wednesday, February 26:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. An interval of weakly
to moderately negative interplanetary Bz magnetic field (-5 to -10 nT) was
observed from 03:00-06:00 UTC and led to active levels from 06:00-12:00 UTC.
Solar wind data also showed a density enhancement and magnetic field enhancement
beginning at 18:00 UTC, suggesting a likely solar sector boundary crossing.
Solar wind speed ranged between 358 and 468 km/s, the planetary A index was
16.
Thursday, February 27:
The geomagnetic field ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels. The solar
sector boundary that began late yesterday was followed by a co-rotating interaction
region and a high speed coronal hole stream. Some intervals of moderate to
strong negative z-component of the interplanetary magnetic field (-10 to -15
nT) were associated with about 9 hours of active to minor storm levels. Conditions
declined to unsettled to active during the last 12 hours of the period. Solar
wind speed ranged between 448 and 662 km/s, the planetary A index was 22.
Friday, February 28:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. The co-rotating interaction
region from yesterday was followed quickly by a high speed coronal stream.
Solar wind speed ranged between 408 and 505 km/s, the planetary A index was
17.
JANUARY 2003
Wednesday, January 1:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
358 and 447 km/s, the planetary A index was 10.
Thursday, January 2:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 339 and 415 km/s. The first signs of a coronal stream were observed
at ACE after 19:00 UTC. Solar wind density peaked near midnight and solar
wind speed is increasing early on January 3.The planetary A index was 8.
Friday, January 3:
The geomagnetic field was predominantly quiet to unsettled. Isolated active
to minor storm conditions were observed between 15:00 to 18:00 UTC due to
the effects of a favorably positioned coronal hole. Solar wind speed ranged
between 357 and 610 km/s, the planetary A index was 13.
Saturday, January 4:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 473 and 654 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. Solar wind
speed peaked before noon and decreased for the remainder of the day as the
coronal stream subsided. The planetary A index was 13.
Sunday, January 5:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 377 and 480 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Monday, January 6:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 369 and 428 km/s, the planetary A index was 7.
Tuesday, January 7:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 311 and 393 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Wednesday, January 8:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
275 and 321 km/s, the planetary A index was 7.
Thursday, January 9:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 277 and 339 km/s. A weak coronal stream began to dominate the solar
wind after 17:00 UTC and solar wind speed has gradually increased since then.
The planetary A index was 7.
Friday, January 10:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 337 and 492 km/s under the influence of a fairly benign coronal stream.
The planetary A index was 10.
Saturday, January 11:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. A weak high speed coronal hole
stream produced unsettled conditions early in the period. Solar wind speed
ranged between 388 and 486 km/s, the planetary A index was 10.
Sunday, January 12:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 358 and 463 km/s, the planetary A index was 11.
Monday, January 13:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 361 and 412 km/s, the planetary A index was 8.
Tuesday, January 14:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled under the influence of a weak
coronal stream, with isolated active periods at higher latitudes. A period
(04:00-12:00 UTC) of mostly southward orientation in the IMF was responsible
for the more disturbed periods. Solar wind speed ranged between 336 and 417
km/s, the planetary A index was 10.
Wednesday, January 15:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels . Solar wind speed
ranged between 367 and 425 km/s under the influence of a weak coronal stream.
The planetary A index was 8.
Thursday, January 16: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 307 and 394 km/s, the planetary A index was 7.
Friday, January 17:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Real-time solar wind
data indicated a solar sector boundary crossing at about 12:00 UTC. Solar
wind speed ranged between 308 and 402 km/s, the planetary A index was 8.
Saturday, January 18: The
geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to active levels. There was one active
period from 12:00-15:00 UTC. There does appear to be some low level wave activity
in the solar wind data (Bz is showing fluctuations from -10 nT to +10 nT with
a period slightly longer than one hour). This may be related to coronal hole
effects from the southern polar extension. Solar wind speed ranged between
362 - 485 km/s, the planetary A index was 13.
Sunday, January 19: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Active conditions commenced
with an increase in the solar wind speed to approximately 600 km/s, believed
to be associated with coronal hole effects from the southern polar extension.
Solar wind speed ranged between 447 and 716 km/s, the planetary A index was
16.
Monday, January 20: The
geomagnetic field was quiet to minor storm. Solar wind speed ranged between
546 and 738 km/s under the influence of a strong coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 17. This coronal stream has its origin in an elongated trans equatorial,
huge extension of the southern polar coronal hole and is likely to continue
until the end of this week. It should be noted that the easternmost part of
this extension is very well defined and could cause the solar wind speed to
increase to above 800 km/s.
Tuesday, January 21: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged between
562 and 717 km/s under the influence of a strong coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 17.
Wednesday, January 22: The
geomagnetic field was unsettled to minor storm. Solar wind speed ranged between
498 and 693 km/s under the influence of a strong coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 17.
Thursday, January 23: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. The onset of coronal
hole effects resulted in minor storm conditions early in the period with an
increase in solar wind speed (peak values near 700 km/s). The Bz component
of the interplanetary magnetic field was slightly southward early in the period
but has since been, on average, neutral. Solar wind speed ranged between 532
and 712 km/s under the influence of a strong coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 19.
Friday, January 24: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. The maximum observed solar
wind speed is the highest recorded during this solar cycle for a coronal hole
based disturbance. Solar wind speed ranged between 593 and 810 km/s under
the influence of a strong coronal stream. The planetary A index was 15.
Saturday, January 25: The
geomagnetic field has been at unsettled to minor storm levels. Minor storm
levels were reached due to an elevated solar wind speed near
800 km/s combined with a seven hour period of negative Bz. Solar wind speed
ranged between 621 and 771 km/s under the influence of a strong coronal stream.
The planetary A index was 28.
Sunday, January 26: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged between
560 and 770 km/s under the influence of a strong coronal stream. The coronal
stream weakened considerably towards the end of the day. The planetary
A index was 17.
Monday, January 27: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 446 and 641 km/s. A coronal stream ended early in the day. An apparent
solar wind shock was observed at approximately 16:30 UTC at SOHO. The planetary
A index was 8.
Tuesday, January 28: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Episodes of substorming occurred
in local nighttime sectors. Solar wind speed ranged between 413 and 493 km/s,
the planetary A index was 12.
Wednesday, January 29: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged between
389 and 468 km/s. A coronal stream began to dominate the solar wind as early
as 08:00 UTC. The planetary A index was 14.
Thursday, January 30: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 417 and 554 km/s under the influence of a moderately strong coronal
stream. The planetary A index was 26.
Friday, January 31: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 399 and 620 km/s, generally decreasing after 09:00 UTC as a coronal
stream began to weaken. The planetary A index was 18.
DECEMBER 2002
Sunday, December 1:
The geomagnetic field was unsettled to active. Solar wind speed ranged between
457 and 558 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary A
index was 16.
Monday, December 2:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
447 and 517 km/s under the weakening influence of a coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 11.
Tuesday, December 3:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
439 and 547 km/s, the planetary A index was 11.
Wednesday, December 4:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled, with an isolated active period
observed at high latitudes during 15:00-18:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged
between 406 and 467 km/s, the planetary A index was 12.
Thursday, December 5:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
379 and 448 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Friday, December 6:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. A fairly weak coronal
stream began to dominate the solar wind after 15h UTC. Solar wind speed ranged
between 351 and 446 km/s, the planetary A index was 10.
Saturday, December 7:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels under the influence of
a coronal stream. The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field has
been predominantly positive resulting in only isolated active conditions.
Solar wind speed ranged between 428 and 630 km/s, the planetary A index was
16.
Sunday, December 8:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 537 and 707 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 12.
Monday, December 9:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
452 and 548 km/s, the planetary A index was 8.
Tuesday, December 10:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
392 and 502 km/s, the planetary A index was 7.
Wednesday, December 11:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
347 and 419 km/s, the planetary A index was 6.
Thursday, December 12:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
339 and 428 km/s, the planetary A index was 7.
Friday, December 13:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
317 and 368 km/s. A weak coronal stream began to dominate the solar wind after
10:00 UTC. Solar wind speed has been increasing slowly since then and is approaching
400 km/s early on December 14. The planetary A index was 7.
Saturday, December 14:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
345 and 561 km/s under the influence of a weak coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 11.
Sunday, December 15:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Weak coronal hole high speed
stream effects persisted through the period. Solar wind speed ranged between
437 and 582 km/s, the planetary A index was 9.
Monday, December 16:
The geomagnetic field was predominantly quiet, with some isolated unsettled
periods. A gradual reduction in high speed stream effects was apparent in
data from the ACE satellite over the course of the day. Solar wind speed ranged
between 428 and 540 km/s, the planetary A index was 8.
Tuesday, December 17:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
359 and 491 km/s, gradually decreasing all day. Solar wind density began increasing
after 19:00 UTC in anticipation of the arrival of a strong coronal stream.
The planetary A index was 6.
Wednesday, December 18:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
349 and 438 km/s. The total field of the interplanetary magnetic field increased
slowly all day, however, only a few weak southward swings were observed causing
the geomagnetic field to remain mostly quiet. The expected recurrent coronal
stream arrived just after midnight on December 19 but does not yet appear
to be as strong as it has been over the last few solar rotations. The planetary
A index was 6.
Thursday, December 19:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to minor storm. Solar wind speed ranged between
337 and 558 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. This coronal stream
is not nearly as strong as it was during the previous two solar rotations.
The planetary A index was 21.
Friday, December 20:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to minor storm levels. Solar wind speed
ranged between 467 and 556 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. Another
disturbance began to dominate the solar wind after 18:00 UTC and the interplanetary
magnetic field has been southwards since then, becoming strongly southwards
early on December 21. The source of the disturbance is likely a CME and may
be associated with the full halo CME observed late on December 18. The planetary
A index was 16.
Saturday, December 21:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to minor storm with several magnetometers
recording major storm conditions during the 03:00 - 06 :00 UTC interval. Solar
wind speed ranged between 380 and 519 km/s, slowly decreasing all day.The
planetary A index was 18.
Sunday, December 22:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels with an isolated active
period at middle and high latitudes between 18:00 and 21:00 UTC.
A solar wind shock was observed at approximately 09:20 UTC at SOHO. Solar
wind speed increased from 370 to 520 km/s over the first 20 minutes after
the shock. The interplanetary magnetic field was mostly northwards during
the day and this resulted in only a weak disturbance. Since just before midnight
the IMF has swung slowly southwards and is moderately to strongly southwards
early on December 23. Solar wind speed ranged between 370 and 547 km/s, the
planetary A index was 12.
Monday, December 23:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels. Sustained southward
Bz and a six-hour period of elevated solar wind velocity (peak velocity 600
km/s) resulted in active conditions at mid-latitudes and minor storm conditions
on the planetary index. Solar wind speed ranged between 456 and 595 km/s,
the planetary A index was 26.
Tuesday, December 24:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 468 and 574 km/s, the planetary A index was 18. A weak solar wind
shock was observed at ACE at 13:18 UTC. Solar wind speed increased abruptly
from 470 to 520 km/s and the interplanetary magnetic field was at times moderately
southwards after the shock.
Wednesday, December 25:
The geomagnetic field was predominantly at unsettled levels. One period of
isolated active conditions occurred. Solar wind velocity gradually decreased
throughout the day and Bz was slightly negative for most of the day. Solar
wind speed ranged between 409 and 552 km/s, the planetary A index was 14.
Thursday, December 26:
The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed ranged
between 389 and 557 km/s. A strong coronal stream began to dominate the solar
wind after 15:00 UTC and early on December 27 solar wind speed has increased
further to near 700 km/s. The interplanetary magnetic field has at times been
strongly southwards.The planetary A index was 15.
Friday, December 27:
The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels with isolated
major storm periods at higher latitudes. These storm conditions are a result
of a large coronal hole that rotated into a geoeffective position late yesterday.
Solar wind speed ranged between 508 and 773 km/s, the planetary A index was
37.
Saturday, December 28:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active at all latitudes.
A high speed stream, associated with a large equatorial coronal hole, began
late on December 26 and continues to buffet the magnetic field. Solar wind
speed ranged between 603 and 778 km/s, the planetary A index was 19.
Sunday, December 29:
The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet to unsettled. The high speed stream
is declining as the coronal hole rotates out of a geoeffective position. Solar
wind speed ranged between 509 and 719 km/s, the planetary A index was 13.
Monday, December 30:
The geomagnetic field was unsettled to slightly active. Solar wind speed ranged
between 458 and 560 km/s, the planetary A index was 15.
Tuesday, December 31:
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. Solar wind speed ranged between
395 and 472 km/s, the planetary A index was 11.
NOVEMBER 2002
November 01-03:
Friday: The geomagnetic
field has been quiet to unsettled on November 1. Solar wind speed ranged between
379 and 460 km/s, decreasing slowly from midnight until approximately 19:00
UTC, then increasing slowly for the remainder of the day. The planetary A
index was 10.
Saturday: The geomagnetic
field was at quiet to active levels on November 2 with an isolated period
of minor storm conditions at 12:00 UTC. A steady increase in the solar wind
with intermittent periods of southward Bz allowed for the minor storming observed
on November 2. Solar wind speed ranged between 428 and 530 km/s, the planetary
A index was 21.
Sunday: The geomagnetic field was mostly active
on November 3 with a single unsettled interval at 18:00-21:00 UTC. Several
stations reported minor storm intervals. Solar wind speed ranged between 447
and 531 km/s under the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary A index
was 27.
November 04-10:
Monday: The geomagnetic
field was mostly active on November 4 with a single unsettled interval between
18:00-21:00 UTC. The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field was
mostly southward and the solar wind speed (448 and 547 km/s) was elevated
throughout the period in response to a geoeffective coronal wind stream. The
planetary A index was 21.
Tuesday: The
geomagnetic field was at unsettled to active levels on November 5. The Bz
component of the interplanetary magnetic field remained mostly southward today.
Solar wind speed ranged between 473 and 587 km/s under the influence of a
coronal stream. The planetary A index was 19.
Wednesday: The geomagnetic field was unsettled
to active on November 6, with minor storm periods at higher latitudes. High
speed coronal hole effects with persistent southward Bz are causing the disturbance.
There are also indications of a weak transient passage late in the period,
which is enhancing this disturbance. Solar wind speed ranged between 490 and
618 km/s, the planetary A index was 19.
Thursday: The geomagnetic field was unsettled
to active on November 7. Solar wind speed ranged between 472 and 593 km/s,
slowly decreasing all day as the coronal stream, which began on November 2,
finally ended. The sustained southward IMF Bz that persisted for the past
few days also appears to have ended. The planetary A index was 14.
Friday: The geomagnetic field was quiet
to unsettled on November 8. Solar wind speed ranged between 361 and 477 km/s,
the planetary A index was 8.
Saturday: The geomagnetic field was quiet
to unsettled on November 9. The field became somewhat disturbed after 18:00
UTC in response to a shock observed in the solar wind at about 17:55 UTC.
Further analysis of the solar wind data since
21:00 UTC suggests that this structure is CME material rather than related
to a
high-speed stream. Solar wind speed ranged between 348 and 410 km/s, the planetary
A index was 9.
Sunday: The geomagnetic field ranged from
quiet to minor storm levels on November 10. The CME material noted yesterday
appears to have passed. The interplanetary magnetic field was mostly strongly
northwards. A sustained moderate southward swing early in the day caused active
to minor storm conditions. After 13:00 UTC solar wind speed began to increase
slowly and late in the day it was obvious that a coronal stream was the main
influence on the solar wind. Solar wind speed ranged between 346 and 416 km/s,
the planetary A index was 15.
November 11-17:
Monday: The geomagnetic field was quiet to
active on November 11. A solar wind shock occurred at 13:53 UTC when solar
wind speed increased abruptly from 610 to nearly 700 km/sec. The presence
of a coronal stream at the time when this CME arrived had surprising effects
on the interplanetary magnetic field. The IMF weakened a lot and was northwards
for the remainder of the day. Solar wind speed ranged between 388 and
703 km/s, the planetary A index was 12.
Tuesday: The geomagnetic field has been predominately
quiet to unsettled on November 12 with one period of active conditions observed
at high latitudes at 15:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 482 and 690
km/sec, slowly decreasing all day. The combined disturbance caused by a coronal
stream and the CME which arrived after noon on November 11, continued with
stronger southward IMF excursions noted towards the end of the day. The planetary
A index was 14.
Wednesday: The geomagnetic field was predominantly
unsettled on November 13 with some isolated quiet and active periods. Solar
wind speed ranged between 476 and
674 km/s, the planetary A index was 12.
Thursday to Saturday: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels on November 14 to 16.
Sunday: The
geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled conditions on November 17. Solar
wind speed ranged between 366 and 547 km/s, generally decreasing all day.
A weak solar wind shock was observed at ACE near 23h UTC on October 16. The
interplanetary magnetic field was northwards most of the day, however, a gradual
southwards swing was observed towards the end of the day. The planetary A
index
was 8.
November 18-24:
Monday: The geomagnetic field was quiet to
unsettled on November 18. Solar wind speed ranged between 354 and 388 km/s,
the planetary A index was 12.
Tuesday: The geomagnetic field was quiet to
active on November 19. The interplanetary magnetic field had a sustained southward
interval after 21:00 UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 350 and 438 km/s,
the planetary A index was 14.
Wednesday: The geomagnetic field was quiet
to active on November 20. A disturbance began influencing the geomagnetic
field around noon. The total field of the interplanetary magnetic field increased
gradually in strength from 23:00 UTC and became very strong early on November
21. Although a coronal stream is still the most likely possibility, this disturbance
may have other sources than a coronal hole. Solar wind speed ranged between
353 and 494 km/s, the planetary A index was 17.
Friday: The geomagnetic field was at unsettled
to minor storm levels on November 22. The transequatorial coronal hole in
the western solar hemisphere continues to elevate the high speed solar wind
(548 and 707 km/s). The planetary A index was 24.
Saturday: The geomagnetic field was at quiet
to active levels on November 23. Minor to major storm conditions were experienced
between 03:00 to 06:00 UTC due to high speed solar wind resulting from the
favorably positioned coronal hole in the western solar hemisphere. Solar wind
speed ranged between 463 and 582 km/s, the planetary A index was 19.
Sunday: The geomagnetic field was quiet to
active on November 24. Solar wind speed ranged between 418 and 519 km/sec
under the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary A index was 16.
November 25-30:
Monday: The geomagnetic field was quiet to
active on November 25. Solar wind speed ranged between 420 and 532 km/s under
the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary A index was 17.
Tuesday: The geomagnetic field was quiet to
minor storm on November 26. A solar wind shock was observed at SOHO at 21:21
UTC (in response to a filament eruption and CME observed on November 24).
Solar wind speed increased abruptly from 370 to 550 km/sec and the interplanetary
magnetic field swung strongly southwards. Solar wind speed ranged between
349 and 601 km/s, the planetary A index was 14.
Wednesday: The geomagnetic field ranged from
unsettled to active levels on November 27. Solar wind speed ranged between
459 and 640 km/s, the planetary A index was 21.
Thursday: The geomagnetic field ranged from
quiet to active levels during on November 28. Solar wind data show the continuation
of enhanced solar wind speed, and a weak but steadily southward orientation
of the interplanetary magnetic field. Solar wind speed ranged between 462
and 548 km/s, the planetary A index was 15.
Friday: The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet
to unsettled on November 29 with a few active periods. The onset of a coronal
stream was observed at 05:30 UTC. Solar wind velocity remains enhanced and
the interplanetary magnetic field continues to have significant intervals
of weakly southward orientation. Solar wind speed ranged between 465 and 602
km/s, the planetary A index was 14.
Saturday: The geomagnetic field was predominantly
unsettled to active on November 30. Solar wind speeds continue to be enhanced,
and the Z-component of the interplanetary magnetic field continues to hold
at weakly negative values. Solar wind speed ranged between 466 and 562 km/s
under the influence of a coronal stream. The planetary A index was 16.
OCTOBER 2002
October 07-13:
Sky watchers in northern parts of the US,
Canada and northern Europe experienced spectacular Aurorae from Monday to
Wednesday. It was the second round of Northern Lights seen at middle latitudes
this month. Occasional periods of minor to isolated strong geomagnetic storm
conditions were triggered by a well positioned coronal hole and several solar
M-class events which occurred on October 5 and 6.
Sporadic minor to strong substorm activity has been observed at higher latitudes
on October 10. The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet to unsettled until October
13, with one active period observed during 09:00-12:00 UTC on October 12.
October 14-20:
Monday: The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to major storm levels
on October 14. A coronal stream dominated the solar wind after 12:00 UTC.
As is fairly often the case with coronal streams, the solar wind several hours
ahead of it was compressed causing an increase both in solar wind density
and the total field of the interplanetary magnetic field. The source of the
coronal stream is a large extension of the northern polar coronal hole, this
extension was in a geoeffective position on October 11. Solar wind speed ranged
between 297 and 443 km/sec, the planetary A index was 26.
Tuesday: The geomagnetic field ranged from
quiet to active levels on October 15.
A slow, yet steady, increase in the solar wind speed along with intermittent
periods of southward Bz allowed for the active periods seen today. The source
of the coronal stream is a large extension of the northern polar coronal hole.
Solar wind speed ranged between 401 and 614 km/sec, the planetary A index
was 15.
Wednesday: The geomagnetic field was at quiet
to active levels on October 16 with an isolated period of minor storm conditions
at high latitudes between 18:00-21:00 UTC. The Advanced Composition Explorer
(ACE) satellite hinted at the possibility of a weak shock passage commencing
at 16:10 UTC. This additional disturbance may have been related to the arrival
of the CME observed after the long duration M2.2 event near region 159 on October
13/14. Solar wind speed ranged between 449 and 672 km/sec under the influence
of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 14.
Thursday: The geomagnetic field was quiet
to slightly active on October 17. An isolated active period occurred between
00:00-03:00 UTC at high latitudes. Solar wind speed ranged between 491 and
713 km/sec under the influence of a high speed coronal stream, the planetary
A index was 11.
Friday: The geomagnetic field activity
was at predominantly quiet to unsettled levels on October 18 with an isolated
period of active conditions. Solar wind speed ranged between 519 and 673 km/sec
under the influence of a high speed coronal stream until at least 14h UTC.
At that time wind speed began to increase slowly, a tendency which continued
until midnight. While there was no shock, this increase in speed and the changes
observed in other solar wind parameters may have been caused by the arrival
of a CME observed on October 15. The planetary A index was 13.
Saturday: The geomagnetic field was at
quiet to unsettled levels on October 19. Solar wind velocities gradually increased
to an average of 675 km/s. Bz has been predominantly northward resulting in
only unsettled conditions. Solar wind speed ranged between 588 and 739 km/sec
under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index
was 11.
Sunday: The geomagnetic field was at quiet
to unsettled levels on October 20. Solar wind speed ranged between 558 and
763 km/sec under the influence of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary
A index was 10.
October 21-27:
Monday: The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels on
October 21. Solar wind speed ranged between 470 and 710 km/sec under the influence
of a high speed coronal stream. The planetary A index was 11.
Tuesday: The geomagnetic field was at quiet
to unsettled levels on October 22. One period on isolated active conditions
was observed between 09-12 UTC. Solar wind speed continues to gradually decrease
and ranged between 441 and 565 km/sec. The planetary A index was 12.
Wednesday: The geomagnetic field was quiet
to mildly active on October 23. Solar wind speed ranged between 403 and 471
km/sec. A disturbance began to influence the geomagnetic field after 12:00
UTC. Solar wind density had been increasing slowly. It is still too early
to tell if this disturbance is coronal stream related or has another origin.
Early on October 24 the interplanetary magnetic field has become stronger
and swung moderately southwards.
Thursday: The geomagnetic field was at
active to major storm levels on October 24. The disturbance was fueled by
high speed solar wind (446 to 754 km/sec), emanating from a large coronal
hole in the western solar hemisphere. The speed began to increase substantially
around 08:00 UTC. The planetary A index was 47.
Friday: The geomagnetic field was at unsettled
to major storm levels on October 25. The large coronal hole in the western
solar hemisphere continues to elevate the high speed solar wind (594 to 768
km/sec). The planetary A index was 40.
Saturday: The geomagnetic field was at
quiet to minor storm levels on October 26. The high speed (502 - 657 km/s)
solar wind stream continues to cause activity, but less pronounced than before.
The solar wind radial speed is near 550 km/s (down from 750 km/s), and the
disturbance is subsiding as a consequence. The planetary A index was 27.
Sunday: The geomagnetic field was unsettled
to active on October 27. The magnetosphere continues to be under the influence
of a high speed solar wind stream with persistently negative orientation of
the interplanetary magnetic field component Bz. Solar wind speed ranged between
497 and 682 km/s. The planetary A index was 22.
October 28-31:
Monday: The geomagnetic field was unsettled to active on October
28. Solar wind signatures continue to indicate the presence of a high speed
solar wind stream associated with a coronal hole. Solar wind speed ranged
between 554 and 697 km/s, the planetary A index was 17.
Tuesday: The geomagnetic field was predominantly
quiet to unsettled on October 29, with an isolated active period from 09:00-12:00
UTC. Solar wind speed ranged between 400 and 608 km/sec, slowly decreasing
all day as a high speed coronal stream subsided. The planetary A index was
16.
Wednesday: The geomagnetic field was mostly
quiet to unsettled on October 30, except for an interval of active to minor
storm conditions from 06:00-12:00 UTC. Solar wind speed (402 and 554 km/s)
increased during the first few hours of the day as a coronal stream originating
from a small coronal hole began to dominate the solar wind. The planetary
A index was 19.
Thursday: The geomagnetic field was unsettled
to active on October 31. Solar wind speed ranged between 405 and 507 km/s,
the planetary A index was 18.
Sources: SEC
/ NOAA and STAR
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