Friday, February 4, 2011

Magnetosphere Update - February 4, 2011 at 5:07 PM Central


Homeland Security's FEMA Agency National Situation Update: Friday, February 4, 2011

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

Numerous Watches, Warnings, and Advisories are in effect. See http://www.weather.gov/largemap.php for the latest information.


South:
Light to moderate rain is expected over parts of the region on Friday, with a band of freezing rain and sleet over parts of the Central Gulf Coast during the morning. Snow is forecast to fall over interior parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley. Rain with embedded thunderstorms is expected over parts of the Southeast coast Friday night into Saturday morning

Midwest:
Light snow is forecast for parts of the Upper Great Lakes through Saturday. Some areas of rain/freezing rain will develop over parts of the Northern Plains, changing over to snow by Saturday evening.

Northeast:
Temperatures will drop into the single digits well inland with some isolated below zero readings. On Saturday another coastal storm may affect Southern New England down to New Jersey, with the potential of up to 6 inches of snow.

West:
Rain is expected along portions of the Pacific Northwest coast with snow developing over the Northern Rockies and into the Northern Plains and Central Rockies.
(National Weather Service, Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, and various media sources)

Major Winter Storm

Most major power outages and road closures in states affected by the storm are ending. As the impacts from the storm lessen, Federal and state response activities are being reduced.

Storm related fatalities were confirmed in Indiana (4), Illinois (4), Texas (1) and Oklahoma (1). Power restoration continues in several states. As of Thursday evening 2,800 customers were without power in Indiana, 7,000 customers were without power in Illinois, 8,600 customers were without power in Texas, 9,100 customers were without power in Pennsylvania, and 24,500 customers were without power in Ohio. Restoration is ongoing, and all outages are expected to be restored by Sunday. American Red Cross shelters remained open Wednesday night in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, with 170 or fewer occupants in each state. Roof and/or structural collapses were reported in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Freezing temperatures are affecting Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

The President signed Emergency Declarations for Oklahoma (FEMA-3316-EM) and Missouri (FEMA-3317-EM), authorizing FEMA to provide emergency protective measures (Category B) limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding. This assistance is for all counties in Oklahoma and Missouri and the Independent City of St. Louis in the State of Missouri.

Natural Gas service interruption – Arizona, New Mexico and Texas

Natural gas service interruptions have been reported in Arizona, Texas and New Mexico due to the cold temperatures along with high demand and short supply of natural gas. ATMOS Energy in Dallas, Texas, the state’s largest supplier of Natural Gas, issued a curtailment order in on February 2, for commercial/industrial customers north of I-30 in the Dallas area for up to six days.

In New Mexico, the Governor declared a State of Emergency and ordered all non-critical services closed on February 4. Residents have been affected across seven counties in New Mexico, and Pima and Cochise Counties in Arizona. Pima County, AZ has partially activated their Emergency Operations Center. There have been no requests for FEMA assistance.

The American Red Cross has provided assistance for an estimated 4,000 displaced residents in New Mexico with warming shelters, cots, blankets and food. Kirtland Air Force Base, N. M., evacuated more than 1,028 families to local area hotels, with any anticipated overflow being sheltered at three local high schools.

Solar Activity Outlook for Feb. 4 – 6

Solar activity is expected to be very low with a slight chance for C-class flare the next three days. The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly unsettled to active with a chance for a minor storm today, Feb. 4, mostly unsettled on Feb. 5, then returning to quiet on Feb 6.

Earthquake Activity

The USGS reports that a magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred Feb. 4 at 12:33 a.m. EST, on the Kanai Peninsula of Alaska, approximately 36 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska at a depth of 22.9 miles. Light shaking was felt over a large area in the vicinity of Anchorage. There have been no preliminary reports of damage or injury. The West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center has determined a tsunami is not likely.
(USGS and West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center)

Disaster Declaration Activity

Missouri
On Feb. 3, 2011, the President signed Emergency Declaration FEMA- 3317-EM for the State of Missouri as a result of a severe winter storm beginning on Jan. 31, 2011, and continuing. Specifically, FEMA is authorized to provide emergency protective measures (Category B) limited to direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program at 75 percent Federal funding. This assistance is for all 114 counties and the Independent City of St. Louis in the State of Missouri. (FEMA HQ)

Stay informed of FEMA's activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

Last Modified: Friday, 04-Feb-2011 10:42:00 EST

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Magnetosphere Update - December 30, 2010 at 5:14 PM Central


About Real-Time Magnetosphere Simulation

http://www2.nict.go.jp/y/y223/simulation/realtime/index.html

CaveNews YouTube ENTIRELY "Magnetosphere" Channel

4.2 Magnitude earthquake hit Indiana this Thursday Dec 30 2010 at 7:55 AM at epicenter - 50 NNE of Indianapolis


MAP 4.2 2010/12/30 12:55:22 40.427 -85.888 4.9 INDIANA

Magnitude4.2
Date-Time
Location40.427°N, 85.888°W
Depth4.9 km (3.0 miles) set by location program
RegionINDIANA
Distances20 km (15 miles) ESE of Kokomo, Indiana
20 km (15 miles) WSW of Marion, Indiana
40 km (25 miles) S of Wabash, Indiana
75 km (50 miles) NNE of INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana
Location Uncertaintyhorizontal +/- 11.7 km (7.3 miles); depth fixed by location program

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Geomagnetic Storm Watch - Sun's magnetic field near Earth tipped South - early hours Dec 28, 2010

GEO-STORM WATCH: A geomagnetic storm is brewing. The sun's magnetic field near Earth tipped south during the early hours of Dec. 28th, opening a crack in Earth's magnetosphere. Solar wind pouring in could spark bright Northern Lights around the Arctic Circle. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.
http://spaceweather.com/

Dec. 3, 2003:Â Earth is surrounded by a magnetic force field--a bubble in space called "the magnetosphere" tens of thousands of miles wide. Although many people don't know it exists, the magnetosphere is familiar. It's a far flung part of the same planetary magnetic field that deflects compass needles here on Earth's surface. And it's important. The magnetosphere acts as a shield that protects us from solar storms.

According to new observations, however, from NASA's IMAGE spacecraft and the joint NASA/European Space Agency Cluster satellites, immense cracks sometimes develop in Earth's magnetosphere and remain open for hours. This allows the solar wind to gush through and power stormy space weather... http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2003/03dec_magneticcracks/




About Real-Time Magnetosphere Simulation

http://www2.nict.go.jp/y/y223/simulation/realtime/index.html

CaveNews YouTube ENTIRELY "Magnetosphere" Channel