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Alerting the world to the mysteries and dangers of Coronal Mass Ejections
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SDO Eclipse Flare

SDO Eclipse Flare

From a joint USAF/NOAA Solar Geophysical Activity Report (#44) released 2/13/14:

there is a moderate to slight chance for an X-class flare from 2/14 through 2/16.

This activity is associated with the anticipated arrival of multiple CMEs first observed on 2/11 & 2/12.

Although quite active for the past few weeks, the sun’s geomagnetic activity has be quiet for the past 24 hours.  It is expected to continue to be active intermittently over the next 30 days per this report.

What does all this mean to us here on Earth?  If the sun launches an X-class solar flare, we might find accompanying larger CME activity.  However, most scientists are not predicting this.  At a minimum, we are looking at satellite and radio communication disruptions, and some radiation worries for high altitude aircraft as well as the ISS.  I am however more concerned with the unbalanced nature of the sun’s sunspot & geomagnetic activity with both maybe precursors to a much larger event (see Carrington Flare) of the kind we have feared.

We will continue to update you as we know more.

Dr. Reid

On last night’s Judge Jeanine program on Fox News Channel, Judge Jeanine Pirro discussed the potential crisis “a million times worse than what happened on 911.”  That is the US Power Grid going down due to a solar flare similar to the one that occurred in 1859.

Finally, some mainstream warnings about this potential problem.

Last week, the largest recorded solar storm in 10 years released a large CME on January 14th

Image of Jan 14th CME

Image of Jan 14th CME

The white rings from the center are the CMEs.  The spot in the upper corner is Venus.

Recent study of flux ropes within a CME with hopes of developing early warning systems.