:Product: 20041217RSGA.txt :Issued: 2004 Dec 17 2200 UTC # Prepared jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, # Space Environment Center and the U.S. Air Force. # Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity SDF Number 352 Issued at 2200Z on 17 Dec 2004 IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 16/2100Z to 17/2100Z: Solar activity was very low. Region 710 (S07W72) has shown a slight increase in area and spot number, but remains quiet. New regions 712 (S10E50) and 713 (S10E70) were numbered today. IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be very low to low. There is a chance for a C-class flare from the new regions near the southeast limb. IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 16/2100Z to 17/2100Z: The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels with a period of minor storming between 17/0300Z and 17/0600Z. The active to minor storm levels were due to the continued influence of a geoeffective coronal hole high speed stream. There was an increase in the solar wind speed at ACE from approximately 550 km/s to 650 km/s during the reporting period. IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to active with minor storm periods possible at high latitudes on 18 December. Expect quiet to unsettled with isolated active conditions on 19 December as the high speed coronal hole stream subsides. Expect quiet to unsettled levels on 20 December. III. Event Probabilities 18 Dec-20 Dec Class M 05/05/05 Class X 01/01/01 Proton 01/01/01 PCAF Green IV. Penticton 10.7 cm Flux Observed 17 Dec 090 Predicted 18 Dec-20 Dec 090/090/095 90 Day Mean 17 Dec 104 V. Geomagnetic A Indices Observed Afr/Ap 16 Dec 008/010 Estimated Afr/Ap 17 Dec 014/020 Predicted Afr/Ap 18 Dec-20 Dec 008/015-006/008-004/005 VI. Geomagnetic Activity Probabilities 18 Dec-20 Dec A. Middle Latitudes Active 20/15/10 Minor storm 10/10/05 Major-severe storm 01/01/01 B. High Latitudes Active 25/20/15 Minor storm 15/10/10 Major-severe storm 05/05/01