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The Solar Forecast: From August 2 to August 8, 2000
posted: 03:26 pm ET
01 August 2000
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The Solar Forecast
For August 9 through August 15
Updated August 8, 2000
Issued by the
NOAA Space Environment Center
Boulder, Colorado, USA
Space weather is expected to reach minor levels the week of Aug. 9 through 15, with isolated minor radio blackouts possible during the week.Minor or category R1 radio blackouts are the least intense on a scale that ranges to category R5 or extreme blackouts. Minor blackouts may cause briefdegradation of navigation signals and occasional brief loss of high-frequency radio communications for mariners and aviators. During the week beginning Jul 31, space weather ranged from calm conditions to minor geomagnetic storm levels. A minor or category G1 storm occurred Aug. 5 as Earth's magnetic field was buffeted by relatively high solar winds. Such storms typically have onlyminor affects on satellite operations and electrical power grids. The sun is expected to reach the peak of its 11-year activity cycle latethis year. -- Lee Siegel, Science Writer source:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Space Environment Center What is a Solar Maximum and What Happens?
The sun is always belching globs of its inner self into space, but every 11 years or so, changes in our star's magnetic field bring on an increase in sunspots, solar flares and events called coronal mass ejections. The result is a barrage of charged particles hurling toward Earth.
| Solar Data Sheet
The big burning ball of gas that holds nine major planets in orbit is not unlike many stars in the universe. The Sun makes up 99.86 percent of the solar system's mass and provides the energy that both sustains and endangers us. Scientists have lately begun calling its tremendous outpouring of energy "space weather."
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