August 2011 Geomagnetic Storm
Build a Geomagnetic Observatory ! GELLER Labs "Backyard Science"
Thoughts on a proton precession magnetometer design - a Proton Magnetometer Project. Build an Earth's field magnetometer.
The FDM MAGNETOMETER1 project is a low cost high performance proton magnetometer (a digital magnetometer) kit under development for universities and amateur scientists to be able to accurately measure and monitor changes in the Earth's total magnetic F field and to observe geomagnetic storms. Magnetic storms can cause large excursions in the field and are of concern to interests ranging from electrical power grids, radio communications, and satellite operations, to aurora watchers and amateur radio operators.
1 Filter Diagonalization Method "FDM" (harmonic inversion), see Jan 21 and Jan 23 entries, based on: Vladimir A. Mandelshtam, Howard S. Taylor, Harmonic inversion of time signals and its applications, Journal of Chemical Physics (1997), Volume 107, Issue 17, 1997, Pages 6756-6769
(be sure to hit refresh to pick up our latest changes and entries)
Project Documentation, Links and References
Journal Notes:
Friday, August 5, 2011 - Global Kp 8 , US - Strong Geomagnetic Storm: G3
Overnight: PDF, TXT, the geomagnetic field was quiet overnight. Good example of a very small Auroral Oval PDF.
Geomagnetic Storm Warning (this entry was updated 8/8/11) ~1545 UTC (11:45 am local) I turned on the On Point radio show on WBUR Boston (via internet) to hear an intro describing a significant solar geomagnetic event today. NOAA alert/warning time line PDF, NOAA SWN (warning was Aug 4) PDF, and Geophysical Alert Message wwv PDF. Afternote: I have since learned that the "A" index watch at the bottom of the time line can provide an advanced indication of an upcoming geomagnetic event. Also, you can sign up for NOAA space weather alerts at the NOAA SWPC Product Subscription Service. After you sign up for the email notifications (bottom of the SWN page) be sure to go to the "subscription" page to check off which categories of the many types of notifications that are available that you want to receive (or, you get nothing).
1930 UTC (3:30 pm, NY, US) there has been a relatively fast geomagnetic impulse with an excursion on the order of just under 50 nT in the F scalar (total field) PDF. NOAA Space Weather Now lists a G1 geomagnetic storm PDF. 1938 UTC The Wing Kp model does not yet seem to be predicting or following this event PDF, however, keep in mind that the K indices are all averages over several hours.
Early evening: Now Global Kp 8! so I guess there is a significant geomagnetic event at that! NOAA K indices PDF, NOAA Wing Kp PDF, our magnetogram PDF (vertical scale changed). 6:06 pm, another relatively fast field rise, approaching 200 nT above our nominal field value, we are now on a 300 nT vertical scale (normally 100 nT) PDF. Evening: Now a G3 magnetic according to NOAA SWN PDF (the Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt from this morning below turned out to be accurate), Our magnetogram PDF, NRCan Ottawa PDF, USGS PDF. NOAA alert/warning time line (7:54 pm) PDF. 10:37 pm (0237 UTC) PDF.
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/latest/wwv.txt
:Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt
:Issued: 2011 Aug 05 1505 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
#
# Geophysical Alert Message
#
Solar-terrestrial indices for 04 August follow.
Solar flux 116 and mid-latitude A-index 4.
The mid-latitude K-index at 1500 UTC on 05 August was 1 (08 nT).
Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor.
Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level occurred.
Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be strong.
Geomagnetic storms reaching the G3 level are likely.
Solar radiation storms reaching the S2 level are likely.
Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are likely.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Overnight: PDF, TXT, this magnetogram from about 2am August 5, includes yesterday's G3 strong magnetic storm.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The NOAA / Space Weather Prediction Center page Advisory Bulletins page looks like a good source for longer term watches, warnings, and predictions of geomagnetic activity. Here is another informative page from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, Top News of the Day.
The NOAA pages we have referred to often in the past, the Wing Kp index, the SWN page, the event time line, and especially the Geomagnetic K-indices page (a record of past and averaged activity), appear to be better reports of geomagnetic events after they have started, and less useful for event prediction.
Want to build your own FDM Proton Precession Magnetometer? All parts are in stock now for a small number of kit sales.
Project Documentation, Links and References
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/notice of typos, etc. send email to joegeller @ gellerlabs dot com
COPYRIGHT © 2009, 2010, 2011 JOSEPH M. GELLER, All rights reserved.