#g7izu โ Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #g7izu, aggregated by home.social.
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G7IZU RRD Website
...aaand we're back! A fix that would potentially have taken me weeks was traced and diagnosed in seconds by Gemini AI.
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G7IZU RRD Website - down for maintenance (now fixed - see reply to this message)
My website at https://tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu is currently down as I work through a PHP upgrade that went south and broke the site. Users may see a message "There has been a critical error on this website."
My standalone Space Weather Ops Dashboard continues to work ok.
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Space Weather
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm is continuing. A G2 watch is in effect for tomorrow (09 Sept).
A minor electron storm reached L1 at 13h UT. Electron flux rates at GOES (in geostationary orbit) may be peaking around now (18h UT), but flux rates at L1 are increasing again so this is one to watch.
The sun remains very active with some flare players rotating Earthwards in the coming days. We may also be under the influence of a coronal hole which is currently facing Earthwards, so expect further radio blackout, HF band degradation and good chances for aurora at high latitudes.
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Space Weather
The geomagnetic storm strength reached G1 (minor) level at 07h30 UT this morning.
Further bursts of substorm activity will continue as this storm progresses, giving further opportunities to see aurora at the higher latitudes.
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Space Weather: Geomagnetic Storm Update
Geomagnetic activity is continuing to build as a number of CMEs reach Earth. Aurora has been seen at high latitudes.
The 1-minute Kp level is currently below G1 level (Kp4) but it's likely to exceed that soon. The DST (Disturbance Storm Time index) is falling quickly and is now at -47nT, showing that the ring current is charging up.
Amateur radio operators at high latitudes have reported auroral radio contacts over Scandinavia.
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Space Weather
Disturbed geomagnetic conditions are continuing.
Significant solar wind dynamic pressure of 30 cm^3 is being recorded at L1, along with a marked negative Bz swing to ~ -12nT.
Solar wind speed has jumped above 500km/s. The DST (Disturbance Storm Time Index) peaked positive due to the initial compression from the CME impact, but it's now swinging negative as the ring current intensifies. Later, as the storm peaks, energy will be released via magnetic reconnection in the magnetotail, shooting accelerated electrons Earthward along field lines to trigger substorms and hopefully aurora.
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Space Weather
CME arrival: The first CME in a potential series has arrived overnight - somewhat earlier than predicted.
IMF Bz is strongly southward and substorms are now hitting polar regions.
HF radio will be degraded at high latitude and polar regions - aurora is possible.
Space Weather Ops Dashboard:
https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/space-weather-ops/ -
Space Weather [dates edited]
Incoming Solar Storms: In recent days several active regions on the sun have launched many CMEs (coronal mass ejections). Only a small number of these appear to be Earth-directed. AR4520 launched an M1.0 flare which produced yesterday's high-energy proton storm.
Three CMEs seem likely to reach Earth starting late on 07 Sept or early 08 Sept. Geomagnetic storm conditions may cause aurora to mid-latitudes.
Conditions will remain disturbed for a day or two. Further flare activity is likely during the coming week.
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Space Weather
The proton storm level is reducing. The 100MeV protons are now below S1 level.
The electron flux is also reducing.
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Space Weather
Proton storm update: High energy 100MeV protons reached the S1 warning levels at 15h45 UT. Levels are slowly falling but low energy 10MeV protons remains high.
Electron flux also peaked at the same time and is now reducing slowly in level.
People who are super-sensitive to proton radiation storms are currently having a bad time.
HF propagation is degraded in polar regions., due to polar cap absorption.
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Tonight, wind power is providing 51% of the UK's electricity needs.
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The UK is currently not importing any gas from Norway via the Langeled pipeline.
This is unusual, but not uncommon as it happens a couple of times per year.
https://www.businessenergydeals.co.uk/blog/langeled-pipeline/
Get the software to monitor this here:
https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/software/ -
GB Grid Monitor: One for the data geeks!
You may know that I recently created an energy and environment dashboard that's available to download on Github.
Over the last week or so I've made some significant upgrades to the dashboard's monitoring and data logging functions. For example, local weather alerts are now enhanced. Rain is tracked nearby and alerts are spoken when rain is due at your location through the use of Environment Agency rain gauges. Mobile "Virtual" rain gauges are deployed to track and confirm incoming rain using Open Meteo and Open Weather Maps APIs. If using a VPN the API limits may be hit very quickly, so try to exclude Python from the VPN by using split-tunneling, or switch off the VPN.
The electricity grid monitoring is enhanced and includes a "system risk index". This monitors system inertia and alerts for when the system is particularly at risk of collapse - the function is calibrated against NESO's own data. Despite official statements, the grid is in a very precarious state at the moment due to rate of decarbonization and the shift to renewables. If the grid frequency moves outside of the statutory limits you hear annoyingly loud alarms (annoying only for your non-geeky other half, that is!)
If a collapse is imminent and the data reaches you before the power goes off, you may get a few seconds' notice before it all goes black.
Data logging is now in place so that historical electricity data can be plotted as 7-day graphs, with data available since 2017 - great for researchers! Frequency plots from upto the last 30 days can be captured to image files via the frequency "history" plot (assuming the app was running to capture the data). Generator plots are back-filled from online archives so can fill in if the app wasn't running.
For the best experience please read the "readme file" before using.
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Space Weather
An M3.0 flare peaked at 19h21 UT 02 Sep. Type II and IV radio emissions were observed, with a CME being observed in imagery.
The flare originated on the east limb so the CME will not be Earth-directed.
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Geostationary Eclipse Season
As we head towards the autumn equinox, the angle between the plane of the ecliptic and the Earth's equatorial plane causes the Sun, Earth, and geostationary satellites to align.
During this period - which occurs for about 45 days around both the spring and autumn equinoxes - geostationary satellites pass directly through the Earth's shadow once every 24 hours. These eclipses can last up to 72 minutes around the exact date of the equinox, temporarily blocking the solar panels that power the spacecraft and forcing them to rely entirely on onboard batteries to maintain operations.
The GOES 18 and 19 sun sensors become periodically blocked by the Earth during eclipses, preventing data collection. For this reason, you'll be seeing breaks in the data on the charts in the Space Weather Ops dashboard like these for about the next six to seven weeks.
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Space Weather
Minor geomagnetic storming is continuing today with substorms occasionally affecting high and polar latitudes.
Conditions should be calming soon.
HF radio propagation will be affected nearer high latitudes.
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Ship AIS
Major search & rescue operation is ongoing in the western English Channel for a possible sunken fishing vessel. Two SAR aircraft and three lifeboats and at least six or seven fishing boats are searching an area approximately 45km south-west of Plymouth.
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Space Weather
A G2 geomagnetic storm is expected today.
Several incoming solar storms may give glancing blows to the Earth, and we'll also be under the influence of a southern-hemisphere coronal hole.
The DST ring current (Disturbance Storm Time Index) has just spiked positively but has now started falling rapidly. Bz (magnetic polarity) is falling and is strongly negative at -9nT. Bt (total magnetic field) is rising. suggesting an approaching storm.
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My GB Energy Monitor Python/browser app has been updated yet again!
It now includes access to the new OpenWeatherMaps Open Call 4.0 API (subscription required, but 1000 free calls per day are included and the app throttles API calls). This API allows for much more granular weather monitoring and prediction, and when enabled you hear a commentary of the weather around you...
The weather "nowcast" section of the app (within the Environment Agency page) has been overhauled and provides a real-time spoken weather "nowcast" as inclement weather approaches. If you live near a coast, dynamic, virtual weather gauges located offshore focus in on rain as it approaches, giving you a countdown to when rain will start, and how bad it will be. It's all actually very clever!
Get it via this page:
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Space Weather
Incoming solar storm: NOAA has issued a G1 storm watch for 27 Aug and a G2 watch on 28 Aug.
The M6.9 flare at 10h02 UT yesterday (25 Aug) launched a CME that was substantially Earth-directed.
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Space Weather
An M6.9 solar flare peaked at 10h02 UT 25 Aug. A moderate R2 radio blackout affected Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
UPDATE: A type II radio emission and a 10cm radio burst has been detected, indicating the release of a CME.
The flare originated from Earth-facing active region AR4513.
A large coronal hole in the southern hemisphere is also present and there's a chance we may get some influence from its fast solar wind stream.
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Space Weather
Solar flare is in progress, peaked at M1.7 at 19h42 UT 24 Aug. A minor R1 radio blackout is affecting eastern Pacific, Central and North American regions.
The green region on this globe represents the area of D-layer absorption on the Earth's sunlit side.
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GB Energy Monitor (update)
New versions of the Python server and html files (v260823.8) were uploaded to Github this morning.
Too many tweaks and fixes in this update to list, but a major change in this update includes the use of Octopus Energy flexible tariff rates for your energy use history. The earlier version used fixed rates. If your gas costs look wrong, go to the settings and change the gas "Units" selection from "auto" to "SMETS2" (m3). Meter types vary and the API doesn't carry the "type" data.
Additionally on the Environment Agency page, there's a new local weather conditions section which pulls data from Open Weather and Open Meteo. This uses your Open Weather API key that is entered on the electricity page, so data will be missing if you don't enter it.
I've had good reports from users of this app so far, so if you're a bit of a geek (and live in England) give it a try!
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Space Policy
The Brussels Times: The European Union told the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva that it wants new norms of โresponsible behaviourโ in outer space alongside future legally binding agreements to help prevent an arms race in space.
Outer space is a โglobal commonsโ that should be used for the benefit of all humankind, and keeping it peaceful is needed to protect access, safety and the long-term use of the space environment, the EU said, according to a statement from the EU Delegation to the UN in Geneva released on Friday.
The bloc also reiterated that international law applies to activities in outer space, including the UN Charter and international humanitarian law, as set out in Article III of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
Countries that have not yet joined the Outer Space Treaty should sign and ratify it โwithout further delayโ, the EU said.
Read the full article:
https://www.brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/2282334/eu-warns-of-rising-threats-in-space-calls-for-urgent-actions-to-prevent-arms-race -
Marine Band Radio interference
What on earth is going on on VHF marine channel 16 in the Plymouth area? This noise has been ongoing for a long time. I don't know how local it is to me.
Ch16 is the international calling and distress channel.
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Proton storm update
Solar energetic particle rates have starting dropping. The rate peaked at around 11h UT and never reached S1 level.
If you don't know why this is important, some people are sensitive to very low solar proton levels. I personally know someone in New Mexico who is affected as soon as the level exceeds about 0.3 of the S1 rate. They feel tiredness and depression as soon as a storm starts.
I'm involved with a scientific group studying the new field of "Heliobiology", looking to find space weather connections to human health.
The electron rates remain elevated.
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Space Weather
Proton storm building
A solar energetic particle storm is building following an eruption from beyond the east limb.
Goes >=10MeV proton levels are approaching the S1 minor radiation storm level.
Electron levels are also rising. Electron charging can cause issues to satellite electronics. Energetic protons can also upset data on satellite computers.
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Space Weather
Another look at this morning's long duration flare which peaked at M1.6 at around 09h50 UT. The flare originated from AR4507 which was slightly beyond the west limb. This has become the customary location for large flares during this solar cycle!
The X-ray flux is still falling and is now at C3.4, over four hours since the flare occurred.
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Space Weather
A short movie from NASA SDO and SOHO showing the flare location and CME.