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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Two solar flares that occurred earlier this week could disrupt some communications on Earth on Wednesday and also impact NASA spacecraft.
NASA models using data from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) and the Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) have now provided more information about the two coronal mass ejections – or CMEs – associated with two solar flares that occurred on Tuesday.
The first of the coronal mass ejections is traveling faster than 1,300 miles per second; the second more than 1,100 miles per second.
NASA's models predict that the CMEs will impact both Earth and Mars, as well as pass by several NASA spacecraft – Messenger, Spitzer, and STEREO-B.
The models also predicted that the leading edge of the first CME would reach Earth at about 10:25 p.m. Pacific Time Wednesday or 1:25 a.m. Eastern Standard Time Thursday morning – plus or minus seven hours.
Such a CME could result in a severe geomagnetic storm, causing aurora at low latitudes, with possible disruption to high frequency radio communication, global positioning systems and power grids.
The sun erupted with one of the largest solar flares of this solar cycle on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Pacific Time. This flare was categorized as an X5.4, making it the second largest flare – after an X6.9 on Aug. 9, 2011 – since the sun’s activity segued into a period of relatively low activity called solar minimum in early 2007.
The current increase in the number of X-class flares is part of the sun’s normal 11-year solar cycle, during which activity on the sun ramps up to solar maximum, which is expected to peak in late 2013.
About an hour later, at 5:14 p.m. Pacific Time Tuesday, the same region let loose an X1.3 class flare. An X1 is 5 times smaller than an X5 flare.
These X-class flares erupted from an active region named AR 1429 that rotated into view on March 2. Prior to this, the region had already produced numerous M-class and one X-class flare.
The region continues to rotate across the front of the sun, so the Tuesday flare was more earthward facing than the previous ones. It triggered a temporary radio blackout on the sunlit side of Earth that interfered with radio navigation and short wave radio.
In association with these flares, the sun also expelled two significant CMEs, which are traveling faster than 600 miles a second and may arrive at Earth in the next few days.
In the meantime, the CME associated with the X-class flare from Sunday has dumped solar particles and magnetic fields into Earth’s atmosphere and distorted Earth's magnetic fields, causing a moderate geomagnetic storm, rated a G2 on a scale from G1 to G5.
Such storms happen when the magnetic fields around Earth rapidly change strength and shape.
A moderate storm usually causes aurora and may interfere with high frequency radio transmission near the poles.
This storm is already dwindling, but the Earth may experience another enhancement if the most recent CMEs are directed toward and impact Earth.
In addition, Tuesday night’s flares have sent solar particles into Earth’s atmosphere, producing a moderate solar energetic particle event, also called a solar radiation storm.
These particles have been detected by NASA’s SOHO and STEREO spacecraft, and NOAA’s GOES spacecraft.
At the time of writing, this storm is rated an S3 on a scale that goes up to S5. Such storms can interfere with high frequency radio communication.
Besides the August 2011 X-class flare, the last time the sun sent out flares of this magnitude was in 2006.
There was an X6.5 on Dec. 6, 2006, and an X9.0 on Dec. 5, 2006. Like the most recent events, those two flares erupted from the same region on the sun, which is a common occurrence.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Authorities are looking for a teenage male who ran away from Lake County Juvenile Hall Wednesday morning.
“The minor has not been located,” acting Chief Probation Officer Steve Buchholz told Lake County News Wednesday afternoon.
The 16-year-old male had been allowed certain privileges, including work duties, and was on garbage detail at the juvenile hall, located outside of Lakeport, Buchholz said
At around 8 a.m. the teen hopped over a fence and took off, according to Buchholz.
Buchholz said the Lake County Sheriff's Office assisted the Probation Department with the search.
After about an hour and a half, the search was called off, Buchholz said.
A pickup order has been placed on the teenager, and Buchholz said it's now up to law enforcement – including his staff and local agencies – to find him.
Due to confidentiality with juvenile inmates, the teenager's name and a physical description can't be released by probation officials to the public.
Buchholz said such escapes aren't a common occurrence at the juvenile detention facility.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA) reported that it is in the process of negotiating an operating agreement with the State Department of Parks and Recreation that will allow AMIA to keep the park open until state funding can be restored.
Last spring it was announced that Anderson Marsh State Historic Park was on the statewide parks “closure list.”
Since that time, AMIA has been working with state parks personnel to create an agreement that will permit AMIA to take on responsibility for numerous aspects of park operations, allowing the park to stay open to the public and for special events.
“Finance is one of the issues the State has been looking at in order to finalize an operating agreement,” said AMIA President Roberta Lyons. “Our proposal has been submitted and now we’re focusing on our fundraising and membership drive, to demonstrate to the state that we can raise the necessary funds in order to responsibly operate the Park for at least three years.”
“The immediate response has been very gratifying,” said AMIA Treasurer Henry Bornstein. “AMIA has received an extremely generous commitment of $15,000 – $5,000 for each of the next three years – from park supporter Charlotte Griswold.”
“The Lake County Land Trust and The Redbud Audubon Society have also each generously pledged $3000 ($1000 for each of the next 3 years),” continued Bornstein. “AMIA is also grateful to the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association for their pledge of $1,500 – $500 for each of the next three years – and to the Children’s Museum of Art and Science, which has made a donation of $1,000 to support AMIA’s Park operations. Numerous individuals have also stepped forward to help, including volunteering to do trail maintenance,”
Clay Shannon and Gregory Graham have announced that their second annual Cattails & Tules event, scheduled to be held on Saturday, June 16, will benefit AMIA as well as Konocti Trails.
AMIA has announced that the Old Time Bluegrass Festival, an important fundraiser for the Park, will be next held in September 2013.
“The festival was postponed for this year because of the need to concentrate on developing a way to keep the Park open,” explained Lyons. “The festival will continue to be an important AMIA fundraiser when the festival resumes next year.”
“To raise all the money it needs, AMIA needs each individual who supports keeping the Park open to help by joining AMIA at an individual, family, business or supporter level.” said Gae Henry, AMIA secretary. “We must each act, doing what we can to protect this jewel of Lake County and keep it open to the public.”
For information about Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, AMIA and how you can help, go to www.andersonmarsh.org or contact AMIA at either
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MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – A prescribed fire using the helitorch is planned for Friday on the Grindstone Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest, conditions permitting.
The Grindstone Chaparral Burn is planned for up to 700 acres and is located near Forest Highway 7 at Long Point.
Helitorch operations will utilize a helicopter directed by personnel in a small airplane to ignite the fire.
The public may notice smoke in this area of the forest Friday, as well as residual smoke after ignitions are over.
Forest visitors are asked to be aware of their surroundings and watch for prescribed burning operations to maintain personal and fire fighter safety.
Areas where prescribed burning operations are taking place will be well signed with increased fire personnel and agency traffic in the area
Due to increased fire traffic and smoke impacts are asked to avoid the Sanhedrin Road and use other routes.
Visitors are encouraged to contact the Forest at 530-934-3316 for more information. Confirmation and updates on prescribed fire activities can also be found on Twitter, @MendocinoNF.
Prescribed burning is an important tool for the forest to use for hazardous fuels reduction and forest health improvement, including wildlife habitat.
Prescribed fire is applied by trained professionals in a skillful manner under specific weather conditions in a defined location to achieve specific objectives.
Each prescribed fire can be different visually depending on the forest types, fuel load and how long fire has been absent from the area, including both wildfires and prescribed fires.
Prescribed burns are conducted when there is a window of opportunity and specific conditions and criteria are met before, and will be sustained during and after, the burn.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316, or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .
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