A C7-class solar flare erupted from sunspot group 8921. Solar radio observations indicate that a coronal mass ejection (CME) accompanied the flare. Because the explosion occured near the center of the Sun's disk, it is likely that the CME was Earth-directed. Coronagraphs on the SOHO spacecraft were not recording data at the time so it is impossible to confirm that coronal material is on the way. Nevertheless, an interplanetary shock wave could pass our planet in the next 24 to 48 hours and trigger modest geomagnetic activity including aurora.

Solar Flare Watch: Sunspot groups 8924, 8925, 8926, and 8927 have developed complex magnetic fields that make them likely sites for M-class flares. Eruptions from 8924 and 8925 could become Earth-directed as these regions rotate toward the center of the Sun's disk during the week.

At 0752 UT on March 24 an X-class solar flare erupted from sunspot group 8910 near the Sun's western limb. The eruption caused radio blackouts lasting up to an hour over Europe and Africa. Following the explosion, post-flare loops were visible over the Sun's limb. At 11:30 UT there was another eruption visible in the animation shown here, created from SOHO 304 Angstrom EIT images. For a 0.5MB gif animation, including the post-flare loops, click here.

25 March 2000: The RADAR Cop in Space: NASA's IMAGE satellite, which scientists say will revolutionize the study and prediction of space weather, was successfully launched March 25 from Vandenberg AFB. To learn more about the mission click here.

Equation:
Sunspots = Solar Flares = Magnetic Shift = Shifting Ocean and Jet Stream Currents = Extreme Weather

Mitch Battros
Producer - Earth Changes TV
http://www.earthchangesTV.com