Blast of sun gas, energy hurtling toward Earth

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Blast of sun gas, energy hurtling toward Earth Solar storm could bring power disruptions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Frank D. Roylance Sun Staff A powerful eruption on the sun's surface yesterday has sent a storm of solar particles and magnetic energy hurtling toward Earth at more than a million miles per hour.

Scientists aren't sure yet what to expect when it arrives late tomorrow or early Friday.

But electric utilities and satellite operators have been advised to prepare for possible disruptions from what is being described as the first big event of the current 11-year solar cycle.

"It's rare. It's unusual. And we do anticipate a strong geomagnetic storm on June 8 and 9," said Ernie Hildner, director of the federal government's Space Environmental Center in Boulder, Colo.

The approaching solar storm is no direct threat to people. And if it arrives at night, it might even produce a rare display of northern lights across the continental United States - possibly as far south as Baltimore, Hildner said.

Solar scientists have been anticipating such solar storms for more than a year. The sun is nearing its "solar maximum," the peak of its sunspot cycle. The failure of a major eruption to occur before now has disappointed many in the solar research community.

"I've been going out there for some time now warning about this solar maximum," Hildner said. "So far it's been a dud, and proven me a false prophet until now. "

The current storm began with a powerful X-ray flare that erupted late yesterday morning from a large region of sunspots now rotating across the surface of the sun.

That was followed by what scientists call a coronal mass ejection - a huge blast of ionized gas and magnetic energy from the same region. The blast was aimed almost directly at Earth.

Hildner said the event hurled about a billion tons of material out from the sun's atmosphere at speeds estimated between 1 million and 2 million mph.

Depending on its exact speed, the first of this cloud of solar debris should arrive in Earth's vicinity by late tomorrow or early Friday.

Sentry satellites orbiting a million miles sunward of Earth will feel its first effects and radio the data to Earth, Hildner said.

That will give scientists and utility managers their first reliable look at the strength and magnetic characteristics of the storm and about an hour's time to prepare for its effects.

"It may get interesting here in a few days," said John Kappenman of Metatech Corp. His company provides electric utilities, pipeline companies and satellite operators with advance warning of solar events that could threaten their operations.

Solar events like this one can induce fluctuations in Earth's magnetic field, triggering potentially damaging voltage surges in long-distance electric transmission lines and oil pipelines and damage to orbiting satellites.

Kappenman said yesterday's solar flare was 20 to 30 times more powerful than one in April.

"We did see a lot of interesting power system problems from the storm in early April," he said. "Bigger storms cause more interesting problems."

A big solar eruption during the last solar maximum, in 1989, triggered widespread power outages in Quebec, and lesser storms since then have caused several major satellite failures.

Such storms also expand Earth's atmosphere, increasing drag on satellites in low orbits and hastening their fall from the sky.

For more information, try www.spaceweather.com.

Originally published on Jun 7 2000

http://www.sunspot.net/content/news/story?section=news&pagename=story&storyid=1150340225023

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), June 07, 2000

Answers

Hi Martin! I see that you're on top of the news, as ever.

In the following newsletter is an official NOAA advisory of the severe-to-very-severe geomagnetic storm coming. Brackets [] mine....

Subj: Earth Changes TV/Breaking News - "It Will Come From The Sky" CME's On Their Way Date: 6/7/2000 2:15:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time From: earthcng@earthlink.net (Mitch Battros) To: earthcng@earthlink.net (Breaking News)

"It Will Come From The Sky" CME's On Their Way...06/07/00 by Mitch Battros (ECTV)

I have received three Urgent messages from sources in and close to NASA and NOAA. They are warning of a [sic] HUGH geomagnetic storm heading our way. Could it be related to Fatima Prophecy? I must tell you, it has taken me a bit by surprise coming this early (if the skies turn red). But as always, time will tell.

For the first time in this cycle, NOAA is predicting power gird [sic] failures, radio blackouts and lots more. Here is an official statement from NOAA " This storm may cause some or all effects on the following: power system grids may require voltage corrections, false alarms may be triggered on protection devices, and high "gas-in-oil" transformer readings may occur; spacecraft may experience surface charging, increased drag, and orientation problems may need corrections. "

My sources have confirmed both agencies have "high concern" for the coming solar storm to hit on June 8th thru 9th. You may want to dig out your dusty Y2K supplies just in case power grids go out in your area.

Also, as you will remember my Equation: Sunspots = Solar Flares = Magnetic Shift = Shifting Ocean and Jet Stream Currents = Extreme Weather

I am expecting larger than usual earthquakes, volcanoes, floods and heat waves all around the world. As a trainer for Emergency Management Office, let me remind you what I was taught to teach others. "When emergency circumstances are taxed, be sure and tell the people you train for emergency operations, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RELY ON THE RED CROSS, FEMA, FIRE DEPT., POLICE DEPT., OR ANY OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICE...IT WILL BE THEIR NEIGHBOR!!!!!

At my recent workshop at the *Body-Mind-Spirit* conference, I stressed the point regarding my belief of what the Earth Changes were all about. We discussed the idea that even though many of us have tried very hard to live our lives in harmony, we may not have quite reached a collective goal in ways of maturity of our human nature. I believe the Earth Changes are here to help bring us together. It is not punishment, but a nature cycle. And yes, some will have an easier time of it than others. (More on this issue of PTSD and preparedness in a coming article)

I believe it was Winston Churchill who said " It's funny about you Americans, you seem to be at your best, when things are their worst." Yes Indeed!

Mitchell Battros _______________________________

Official Space Weather Advisory...06/07/00 by NOAA Space Environment Center Boulder, Colorado, USA

** Strong Radio Blackouts **

A large, complex sunspot region currently visible on the face of the Sun has produced strong (R3) radio blackouts. This region will remain visible from Earth for the next eight days. Continued major activity from this region is possible as it makes its transit across the solar disk.

Data used to provide space weather services are contributed by NOAA, USAF, NASA, NSF, USGS, the International Space Environment Services and other observatories, universities, and institutions. More information is available at SEC's Web site http://sec.noaa.gov

Space Weather Bulletin - NOAA *Strong Geomagnetic Storm Expected

Strong geomagnetic storm levels (G3) are expected during June 8-9. The storming is predicted due to a large coronal mass ejection (CME) that followed a major solar flare which occurred earlier today. This storm may cause some or all effects on the following: power system grids may require voltage corrections, false alarms may be triggered on protection devices, and high "gas-in-oil" transformer readings may occur; spacecraft may experience surface charging, increased drag, and orientation problems may need corrections; HF (high-frequency) radio propagation may be intermittent; intermittent low-frequency radio navigation and satellite navigation problems may occur; and the aurora may be seen as low as 50 degrees.

Outlook For June 7-13 [Same as above, but also...] Isolated category R2 - R3 (moderate - strong) radio blackouts are expected during the period with effects similar to those mentioned in the summary.

Equation: Sunspots = Solar Flares = Magnetic Shift = Shifting Ocean and Jet Stream Currents = Extreme Weather

Mitch Battros Producer - Earth Changes TV http://www.earthchangesTV.com

-- Lee Maloney (leemaloney@hotmail.com), June 07, 2000.


I should clarify:

"[Same as above, but also...]" means: strong storms are expected June 8-9 during the period June 7-13.

-- Lee Maloney (leemaloney@hotmail.com), June 07, 2000.


Scientists Detect Major Solar Storm, Issue Warning for Earth By Joseph B. Verrengia The Associated Press

BOULDER, Colo.(AP) - Scientists have detected a major solar flare erupting on the sun that could buffet Earth with a geomagnetic storm in the next two days. The blast of charged solar particles already is producing scattered radio blackouts but is not expected to significantly disrupt telecommunications or electrical power. It might generate a dramatic light show for midnight stargazers in the northern latitudes until early Saturday.

The sun is approaching the height of its 11-year storm cycle. Unlike previous cycles, this period has been relatively quiet, with eruptions every two months or so.

This storm is estimated to be 20 times stronger than a solar flare in early April.

"Finally, the sun is beginning to flex its muscles," said solar forecaster Dave Speich of the federal Space Environment Center in Boulder.

The latest eruption came at midday Tuesday from a cluster of sunspots on the upper left of the sun as viewed from Earth. A powerful X-ray flare ejected an estimated billion tons of charged particles into space.

Riding the solar wind at speeds up to 2 million mph, the particles should zap Earth's magnetic field late Thursday or early Friday. The sunspot cluster could be active another eight days.

Solar flares can create electrical disturbances that disrupt power supplies, telecommunications and signals that control pipelines and other systems. The particles can damage satellites and alter their orbits.

The storm is rated as moderate on the federal government's new space weather scale.

In 1989, a severe solar storm knocked out power stations serving Canada and the northeastern states, as well as an electrical transformer in New Jersey. Since then, power grid and satellite operators have taken steps to protect their systems.

The clouds of charged particles also produce the aurora borealis, or northern lights. Weather permitting, the light show from this storm could be visible as far south as Washington, D.C.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGIO2IG779C.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), June 07, 2000.


Martin and Lee...thank you for the posts!

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Article from San Francisco Chronicle:

[Fair Use: For Educational and Research Purposes Only]

Explosive Sun Flare Sending Hot Gases Across Earth's Edge

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

Publication date: 2000-06-07

A powerful flare erupted from the sun's surface yesterday, and U.S. space agency officials said the event could trigger radio blackouts and disrupt satellite transmissions as early as tomorrow.

The flare was followed by a violently expanding ball of hot, electrically charged gases that raced outward from the sun at speeds of more than 1 million miles an hour, according to space weather watchers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

A "geomagnetic storm" could reach Earth's upper atmosphere within the next day or two, the space agency said, as the leading edge of the ejected particles from the sun races by and causes unusually bright auroral displays, the shimmering curtains of colored light known as the Northern Lights. Those lights, however, probably will not be visible in the night sky over Northern California, forecasters said.

The solar events are enormous bursts of charged subnuclear particles that originate from electrical storms inside the sun's corona, or outer atmosphere. They occur most frequently when the sun approaches its peak period of sunspot activity -- an 11-year cycle that is due to reach its maximum later this year.

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), June 07, 2000.


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