INTENSIFYING RADIATION STORM: A solar radiation storm in progress around Earth is intensifying. It currently ranks S3 (strong) on NOAA storm scales. Passengers and crew in high latitude, high altitude flights may experience increasing radiation exposures. Meanwhile, Earth-orbiting satellites could experience single-event upsets, noise in imaging systems, and a slight reduction of efficiency in solar panels.
S3 Storm characteristics:
Biological: radiation hazard avoidance recommended for astronauts on EVA; passengers and crew in high-flying aircraft at high latitudes may be exposed to radiation risk.***
Satellite operations: single-event upsets, noise in imaging systems, and slight reduction of efficiency in solar panel are likely.
Other systems: degraded HF radio propagation through the polar regions and navigation position errors likely.
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M5-CLASS EXPLOSION: The ongoing radiation storm got started on May 22nd when the magnetic canopy of sunspot AR1745 exploded. The blast produced an M5-class solar flare and hurled a magnificent CME over the sun's western limb:
http://www.spaceweather.com/
