The X-ray Solar status monitor downloads data periodically from the NOAA
Space Environment Center FTP server. The
previous 24 hours of 5 minute Long-wavelength
X-ray data
from each satellite (GOES 8 and GOES 10) is analyzed, and an appropriate level
of activity for the past 24 hours is assigned as follows:
Normal: Solar X-ray flux is quiet (< 1.00e-6 W/m^2)
Active: Solar X-ray flux is active (>= 1.00e-6 W/m^2)
M Class Flare: An M Class flare has occurred (X-ray flux >= 1.00e-5
W/m^2)
X Class Flare: An X Class flare has occurred (X-ray flux >= 1.00e-4
W/m^2)
Mega Flare: An unprecedented X-ray event has occurred (X-ray flux >=
1.00e-3 W/m^2)
The designation "Mega Flare" was chosen by Kevin Loch when the status
monitor was created on March 4, 1999.
There is no "official" designation for flares in this range.
About the Geomagnetic Field status monitor
The Geomagnetic Field status monitor downloads data periodically from the
NOAA Space Environment Center FTP server. The
previous 24 hours of 3 hour Planetary
Kp Index data is
analyzed and an appropriate level of activity for the past 24 hours is assigned
as follows:
Quiet: the Geomagnetic Field is quiet (Kp < 4)
Active: the Geomagnetic Field has been unsettled (Kp=4)
