Solar alert

Issued on 2021 Oct 16 0803 UTC

DSCOVR registered a fast forward shock in the solar wind at 00:12 UT on October 16. The solar wind speed jumped from about 300 to 345 km/s, while the magnitude of the Interplanetary Field (IMF) jumped from about 6 to 8 nT and the density jumped from about 4.5 to 6.5 counts/cc. The IMF orientation stayed predominantly towards the Sun. This probably corresponds to the Corotating Interaction Region (CIR) in front of the high speed stream from a negative polarity equatorial coronal hole. Enhanced solar wind conditions are possible in the next 24 hours.

Geomagnetic indexes K Dourbes and NOAA Kp have stayed quiet to unsettled since the arrival of the CIR. Active geomagnetic intervals (K Dourbes = 4) are possible in the next 24 hours, with a slight chance for minor storm intervals (K Dourbes = 5).

Reference for this alert

All Presto solar alerts