Solar activity has been at low levels for the last week, with no significant solar flares. Minor geomagnetic disturbances from about midnight on Wednesday to Friday, 26-28 February, have been caused by the Earth’s encounter with the wind stream from a small solar coronal hole. The Earth is expected to encounter the wind stream from another coronal hole on 4-5 March.
The Earth has been inside the high-speed wind stream from a solar coronal hole for the six days, but there have been only minor disturbances to Earth’s magnetic field.
Solar conditions have been quiet since the aurora of 1-3 February. However, disturbances to Earth’s magnetic field may increase as the solar wind stream from a hole in the sun’s corona impacts the Earth on Saturday or Sunday.
The Earth was buffeted by material from a mass-ejection from the solar corona and a high-speed solar wind stream from a coronal hole, resulting in moderate geomagnetic storms for more than 24 hours on 2-3 February. The following report of an aurora sighting comes from Dunedin (thanks to David Barrell).
“Tunnel Beach area, 5 km south of Dunedin, 10.45 pm, Feb 03 2003 (NZDT), conditions partly cloudy and windy. Dull grey-green glow within 15 degrees of south-southeast to south horizon (SW obscured by last of twilight).”
