Weekly Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity, 02 - 08 January 2017
 

:Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2017 Jan 09 0609 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact on the Web
# http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
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# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
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Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
02 - 08 January 2017

Solar activity was at very low levels with only a few low level
B-class flares observed. The solar disk was mostly spotless
throughout the period. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were
observed.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was
normal to moderate levels with high levels observed on 05-08
January. The largest flux value of the period was 25,537 pfu
observed at 08/1935 UTC.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to unsettled levels on 02
January under a nominal solar wind environment. By 03 January, a
solar sector boundary crossing was observed at approximately 03/0956
UTC transitioning into a negative sector followed by increase in
solar wind speed and total field indicating the onset of a negative
polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Total field
increased to a maximum of 15 nT on 04/0444 UTC. Solar wind increased
from approximately 372 km/s to 695 km/s by 05/1423 UTC. Solar wind
speeds continued near 670 km/s through the rest of the period. The
geomagnetic field responded with quiet to active levels from 03-08
January.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
09 January - 04 February 2017

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with low levels
possible from 12-26 January due to the return of old Region 2621
(N10, L=237).

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is
expected to be at normal to moderate levels with high levels likely
on 9-10, 12-16, 18-27 January and on 01-04 February due to CH HSS
influence.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active
levels on 09, 11-14, 17-23, and 27 January through 04 February with
G1 (Minor) storm levels likely on 17-19, 21-22 January, and again on
03 February due to recurrent CH HSS effects.