:Product: 0304RSGA.txt :Issued: 2012 Mar 04 2200 UTC # Prepared jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, # Space Weather Prediction Center and the U.S. Air Force. # Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity SDF Number 064 Issued at 2200Z on 04 Mar 2012 IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 03/2100Z to 04/2100Z: Solar activity was moderate. A long duration M2/1N flare was observed at 04/1052Z from Region 1429 (N18E55). Associated with the event was a 750 sfu Tenflare, Type IV Radio Sweep, and a CME first visible in STEREO B COR 2 Imagery at 04/1210Z (estimated speed of 840 km/s). This region is classified as a Dkc spot group with a Beta-Gamma-Delta magnetic configuration. Further analysis of the CME will be necessary as imagery becomes available, however there appears to be a partial Earth-directed component. A glancing blow is possible from this event. IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels with a slight chance for an X-class flare from Region 1429. IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 03/2100Z to 04/2100Z: The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active conditions with an isolated major storm period observed at high latitudes between 04/0900 - 1200Z. Activity was due to extended periods of the negative Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field near -5 nT. The solar wind speed at the ACE spacecraft was relatively steady near 380 km/s. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels during the period. IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet on day 1 (05 March). Activity levels are expected to increase on day 2 (06 March) due to a possible glancing blow from todays CME associated with the M2/1N flare. Unsettled to active conditions are expected with isolated minor storm periods possible. Conditions are expected to settle down to mostly quiet to unsettled conditions by day 3 (07 March) as the effects of the CME wane. There is a slight chance for a greater than 10 MeV proton event from Region 1429 for the forecast period. III. Event Probabilities 05 Mar-07 Mar Class M 60/60/60 Class X 15/15/15 Proton 15/15/15 PCAF green IV. Penticton 10.7 cm Flux Observed 04 Mar 120 Predicted 05 Mar-07 Mar 120/120/115 90 Day Mean 04 Mar 125 V. Geomagnetic A Indices Observed Afr/Ap 03 Mar 008/009 Estimated Afr/Ap 04 Mar 012/012 Predicted Afr/Ap 05 Mar-07 Mar 006/005-012/015-007/008 VI. Geomagnetic Activity Probabilities 05 Mar-07 Mar A. Middle Latitudes Active 05/30/15 Minor storm 01/15/05 Major-severe storm 01/01/01 B. High Latitudes Active 15/35/20 Minor storm 10/25/15 Major-severe storm 01/15/10