CORONAS-PHOTON Observes Spike of Solar Activity. / October 28, 2009 /
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Spike of solar activity was registered by TESIS observatory installed on Russian satellite CORONAS-PHOTON within previous two days. This is caused by two new active areas which were numbered 1028 and 1029 in NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USA) catalogue. The area numbered 1027 disappeared on Oct. 27. In other words, the spike of solar activity started after a pretty long calm period of three weeks. We can only guess how much energy our star has cumulated and what would it use for.
During the previous activity spike in late Sept., the excessive energy of the solar crown resulted in burst of level C2.0 (second-high capacity this year), as well as a protuberance on the night of Sept. 26 — 27. Both appeared on the eastern edge of the Sun, that`s why there was no impact on the Earth, since geoactivity of this edge is the lowest among the solar longitudes turned towards our planet. Though both new areas are located in the northern part of the Sun, their parameters differ a lot. Area 1028 is a single spot visible from the Earth only via high-res equipment, area 1029 is the largest group this year, which stretches along the solar parallel, and it counts 18 spots. In addition, it evolves rapidly: there were only 11 spots on Oct. 25; the day before, it was 9 spots; and the area didn`t exist on Oct. 23 at all. This evolution shall be followed by cumulating high electrical energy in the solar atmosphere. The latter comes from magnetic hydrodynamics- the force of electrical field in plasma is proportional to magnetic field evolution rate. Thus, very powerful electrical current (circle usually) are generated in the growing areas on the Sun. They grow within many hours, until the current circle is broken due to some random process, and the energy cumulated is outburst. This is modern representation of the solar burst processes.
If this theory is correct, area 1029 should have cumulated much energy to be further released.
It looks like the process has begun already. X-ray solar activity graphs display increasing curves. 8 B-class and 1 С1.5-class bursts took place in area 1029 within the past day.
Despite of releasing much energy, the region continues growing. For example, in Sept. This year active area 1026 was completely damaged by single С2.0-burst. This is an indirect confirmation of essential unreleased energy reserve in 1029.
In Sept., the burst did not have any geoeffective consequences. This time, the activity starts impacting the Earth. 5 disturbances of the magnetic sphere, totally about 10 hours, were detected from Oct. 22 to Oct. 25. These impacts will probably become stronger in the coming days. Area 1029 has passed from eastern hemisphere of the Sun to the western hemisphere, which is featured by higher geoeffectiveness. On Wednesday, in the mid-day, 1029 will reach solar longitudes with magnetic fields linked with our planet. If the energy of the area is not released by this time, the most powerful magnetic storms will take place on the Earth on Oct. 28-31.
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