Solar X-ray event today - Airline Pilot Central Forums

SonicFlyer , 09-06-2017 09:44 AM

Gets Weekends Off

An X9.3 flare (R3-Strong radio blackout) occurred on 6 September at 1202 UTC (0802 ET).

This flare followed an X2.2 flare (R3 also) at 0910 UTC (0610 ET). The source region for both flares was Region 2673. Radio emissions suggest a coronal mass ejection (CME) may be associated with the X9.3 flare, but we await SOHO/LASCO coronagraph imagery for confirmation.

We will update this post when we are able to analyze coronagraph imagery. Keep checking our SWPC webpage for the latest information and updates.

SOURCE:
R3 (X9.3 flare) Radio Blackout on 6 September at 1202 UTC | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

SonicFlyer , 09-06-2017 06:55 PM

Gets Weekends Off

Comparison:

Quote:

Hospital Xrays/CAT scans hit you with 10-20 milliSieverts of total exposure (1/1000 of a Sievert or mSv). This is about 3-7 years of normal background rad exposure. (40 CAT scans get you in the realm of a Chernobyl plant worker).

Commercial pilots flying 700 hr/year normally get about 2 mSv exposure total.

The event this morning was about 10,000 times higher than normal background radiation. So roughly this morning's dose was probably about what they would get in a half or full year depending on a lot of factors ... still less than a single hospital xray in total.

The key thing is that rad exposure comes down to total dosages received over a lifetime. Ionizing radiation is hard on DNA/immune systems. Less is better.

SonicFlyer , 09-12-2017 05:46 AM

Gets Weekends Off

Saw this come across too....

Quote:

Space Weather Message Code: WARPC0
Serial Number: 83
Issue Time: 2017 Sep 10 2342 UTC

EXTENDED WARNING: Proton 100MeV Integral Flux above 1pfu expected
Extension to Serial Number: 82
Valid From: 2017 Sep 10 1630 UTC
Now Valid Until: 2017 Sep 11 2359 UTC
Warning Condition: Persistence

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
NOAA Space Weather Scales | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Potential Impacts: An enhancement in the energetic portion of the solar radiation spectrum may indicate increased biological risk to astronauts or passengers and crew in high latitude, high altitude flights.

Additionally, energetic particles may represent an increased risk to all satellite systems susceptible to single event effects. This information should be used in conjunction with the current Solar Radiation
Storm conditions when assessing overall impact.