Skip to main content

Observations

Space Based Imaging

More data: SWAP, EUI

Ground Based Imaging

More: H-α, WL, Ca-IIK, Drawings

Ground Based Radio

More: ARCAS+HSRS, CALLISTO

Space Based Timelines

More data: LYRA, TSI

WDC Sunspot Index

More data: SILSO

Space Weather Services

Detections

Solar Map

Latest Alerts

Presto 2024-05-18

The global geomagnetic conditions reached moderate storm levels (NOAA Kp 6) yesterday between 18:00-21:00 UTC. This is the result of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) arrival yesterday at 12:44 UTC. The geomagnetic conditions dropped back to active levels (NOAA Kp 4-) today at 00:00 UTC and are expected to drop further as the effects from the CME wane.

Flaremail 2024-05-15

A class X2.9 solar X-ray flare occurred on 2024/05/15 with peak time 14:38UT

CACTus Halo 2024-05-17

A halo or partial-halo CME was detected with the following characteristics: t0 | dt0| pa | da | v | dv | minv| maxv| 2024-05-15T21:12:12.069 | 3.0 | 310 | 150 | 763 | 439 | 112 | 1838 t0: onset time, earliest indication of liftoff dt0: duration of liftoff (hours) pa: principal angle, counterclockwise from North (degrees) da: angular width of the CME (degrees), v: median velocity (km/s) dv: variation (1 sigma) of velocity over the width of the CME mindv: lowest velocity detected within the CME maxdv: highest velocity detected within the CME

Forecasts

  • Flare: M-class flares
    (≥50%)
  • Protons: Quiet
  • Geomagnetic: Active conditions
    (A>=20 or K=4)
  • All quiet: False
  • Provisional SSN: 161

Solar Activity

URSIgram 2024-05-18

Solar flaring activity was high during the last 24 hours, with an M7 flare emitted from NOAA Active Region (AR) 3685 (magnetic configuration Beta-Gamma, Catania sunspot group 9) yesterday at 21:08 UTC. The second brightest X-ray flare of the past 24 hours was a C7 from NOAA AR 3679 (magnetic configuration Beta-Gamma, Catania sunspot group 6). NOAA AR 3671 (magnetic configuration Beta, Catania sunspot group 93) and NOAA AR 3686 (magnetic configuration Alpha, Catania sunspot group 11) produced the remaining of the C-class flaring activity. For the next 24 hours, the pair of NOAA AR 3685 and 3686 is expected to continue producing M-class flares with a chance of an X-class flare. No Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) have been observed in the available coronagraph data. A partial halo CME seen in SOHO/LASCO-C2 images as launched yesterday at 12:48 UT is judged to be a back-sided event. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux, as measured by the GOES-18 satellite, continued its drop during the past 24 hours and is now in low levels. It is likely that it will remain at low levels in the next 24 hours, however, there is a small chance of a new proton event and an increase in flux above the 10 pfu alert level. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux, as measured by the GOES-18 satellite, increased during the past 24 hours and reached the 1000 pfu alert threshold momentarily. This was most likely a localised event as it lasted for a very short time and was not observed by GOES-16. Hence, the electron flux is expected to remain at low levels in the next 24 hours. The 24h electron fluence increased but remained at normal levels during the past 24 hours. It is expected to decrease further in the next 24 hours.

Solar Wind

URSIgram 2024-05-18

The global geomagnetic conditions reached storm levels yesterday (NOAA Kp: 5 15:00-18:00 UTC, 6 18:00-21:00 UTC, 5+ 21:00-24:00 UTC) and now fluctuate between quiet and unsettled levels. Locally the conditions also increased to the minor storm level (K BEL 5) yesterday at 18:00-21:00 UTC and now fluctuate between quiet and unsettled levels. For the next 24 hours the geomagnetic conditions are expected to vary between active and quiet levels both globally and locally. The Solar Wind (SW) conditions were disturbed by a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)-induced shock yesterday at 12:40 UTC. The CME itself followed a few minutes later. This is most likely the CME expected to arrive as glancing blow yesterday evening. The SW speed peaked to 520 km/s because of the arrival of the disturbance. The total interplanetary magnetic field (Bt) increased to 17 nT but has decline significantly now. The North-South magnetic component (Bz) fluctuated between -15 and 13 nT during the CME disturbance. The interplanetary magnetic field phi angle turned to the direction of the Sun as a result of the CME arrival and stayed predominantly to this direction. The effects of the CME are expected to diminish in the next 24 hours.

Research

News

Front

The King is dead, long live the King?

While NOAA 3664 has rounded the Sun's west limb, a new X-class flare producing active region has shown up near the Sun's east limb.

Sunspots and aurora

Last weekend's polar lights have been witnessed by millions around the world. While many drove to dark places to watch this celestial spectacle, others grabbed a lawn chair and watched the baffling show from their own backyard. Children were woken up by their parents to watch the colours in the sky. The 10-11 May aurora certainly captured the attention and awe of the public and the media.

Brenda Dorsch

Extremely severe geomagnetic storm!

As expected, the first in a series of CMEs has arrived and unleashed its full power, resulting in an extremely severe geomagnetic storm. Further severe storming this weekend is possible. ***UPDATED (4)***
 

Activities

Ground Observations

The SIDC monitors the level of solar activity from the photosphere to the corona with ground based instruments located in Uccle and Humain.

Read more

Space Instruments

To avoid the disturbing or blocking effect of the Earth atmosphere, EUV observations of the solar corona need to be made from space...

Read more

Space Weather & Climate

We monitor and forecast solar variability to provide information services  to society and industry about the influence of space weather and climate.

Read more

Data Processing & Distribution

Data processing is necessary to extract relevant information for research studies, whereas data distribution and visualization are part of ROB open data policy.

Read more

Modeling

Modelling of Solar phenomena allows scientists to test theories and to predict Space Weather phenomena and their impact on Earth.

Read more

 

Supporting Research

The SIDC shares and expands its expertise through interaction with both upcoming and experienced researchers.

Read more