Active solar regions return: Sun Revs Up Again (Forwarded)

NOAA

Media Contact:
Barbara McGehan, NOAA Space Environment Center
(303) 497-6288,

Nov. 6, 2003

ACTIVE SOLAR REGIONS RETURN

Sun Revs Up Again

The solar regions that produced dramatic space weather activity in late October
and early November returned to the visible side of the sun, according to the
NOAA Space Environment Center in Boulder, Colo. The area known as NOAA Region
501 already produced a moderate radio blackout, R2 on the NOAA space weather
scales, and spawned a severe, or G4, geomagnetic storm, which began Thursday,
Nov. 20 at 2:04 a.m. EST, and is strengthening.

The last flurry of activity associated with these regions produced perhaps the
largest radio blackout (R5) measured by the NOAA GOES satellite in almost thirty
years. Moderate to strong activity is possible for the next two weeks as the sun
spot regions make their transit across the sun.

It is unusual for regions to return a second time with the intensity they
produced the first time around. NOAA space weather forecaster Larry Combs said,
"The uniqueness of this activity continues to be of interest. We're still
keeping a close watch on these regions to see if they produce additional fireworks."

Aurora Borealis or northern lights may be possible Thursday night in northern
latitudes.

These large sunspot groups have been re-numbered as NOAA Region 501 (previously
region 484), 507 (previously Region 488), and 508 (previously Region 486). All
three regions have decreased in size since the last rotation, however, they are
bright and show considerable magnetic complexity.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the
prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing
environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is
part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Relevant Web Sites

* NOAA Space Environment Center
http://sec.noaa.gov/
* NOAA Space Weather Scales
http://sec.noaa.gov/NOAAscales/
* NOAA Solar X-ray Imager -- Latest Views of the Sun
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/sxi/latest.html
* Latest SOHO images
http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/...me-images.html

IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories...2003-2211z.jpg
(37KB)]
View of sun taken on Nov. 20, 2003, at 5:11 p.m. EST. Credits: NOAA