Solar alert

Issued on 2021 Oct 31 1318 UTC

DSCOVR registered a fast forward shock in the solar wind today at 09:14 UT. The solar wind speed jumped from about 390 to 420 km/s, while the magnitude of the Interplanetary Field (IMF) jumped from about 5 to 10 nT and the density jumped from about 6 to 15 counts/cc. The IMF orientation continued be positive (i.e. pointing away from the Sun). This shock is the result of the expected arrival of the CME that took place on 28 Oct 15:50 UT. The geomagnetic conditions are expected to be enhanced for the next several hours and start to gradually return to a slow solar wind regime within the next 24 hours.

Geomagnetic indeces Kp and K Dourbes have remain at quiet levels (2-3) so far. However in the next 24 hours they are expected to increase to a moderate level (Kp and K Dourbes 4) and possibly reach an active level (5).

Reference for this alert

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