Solar Storm / CME July 13th, 2012

A CME (Coronal Mass Ejection) occurred yesterday and is currently hitting the Earth as we speak (event started at about 9 AM EST)

To monitor live data, please visit the "Space Weather" section of the blog here; http://climatedriver.blogspot.com/p/space-weather.html

This was the Space Weather forecast from NOAA / SWPC


Outlook For July 9-15
A category G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm is expected on 9 July. A category S1 (Minor) solar radiation storm is expected on 9 and 10 July. Category R1 (Minor) radio blackouts are expected from 9-15 July.

Here is the latest solar X-Ray Image from the GOES Satellite

Courtesy; http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/SWN/

What is GOES?

The GOES 12 through 15 spacecraft each carry a sophisticated Solar X-ray Imager to monitor the Sun’s X-rays for the early detection of solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and other phenomena that impact the geospace environment. This early warning is important because travelling solar disturbances affect not only the safety of humans in high-altitude missions, such as human spaceflight, but also military and commercial satellite communications. In addition, coronal mass ejections can damage long-distance electric power grids, causing extensive power blackouts. 

Here is a great YouTube video from Trudi Kay where you can see the solar flare and other information such as the position of the Aurora and impact on our geomagnetic field, etc.