September 2017's Geoeffective Space Weather and Impacts to Caribbean Radio Communications during Hurricane Response
Journal Article
Overview
abstract
Between 4 and 10 September 2017, multiple solar eruptions occurred from; active region AR12673. NOAA and NASA’s well-instrumented spacecraft; observed the evolution of these geoeffective events from their solar; origins, through the interplanetary medium, to their geospace impacts.; The 6 September X9.3 flare was the largest to date for the nearly; concluded solar cycle 24 and, in fact, the brightest recorded since an; X17 flare in September 2005, which occurred during the declining phase; of solar cycle 23. Rapid ionization of the sunlit upper atmosphere; occurred, disrupting high frequency communications in the Caribbean; region while emergency managers were scrambling to provide critical; recovery services caused by the region’s devastating hurricanes. The 10; September west limb eruption resulted in the first solar energetic; particle event since 2012 with sufficient flux and energy to yield a; ground level enhancement. Spacecraft at L1, including DSCOVR, sampled; the associated interplanetary coronal mass ejections minutes before; their collision with Earth’s magnetosphere. Strong compression and; erosion of the dayside magnetosphere occurred, placing geosynchronous; satellites in the magnetosheath. Subsequent geomagnetic storms produced; magnificent auroral displays and elevated hazards to power systems.; Through the lens of NOAA’s space weather R-S-G storm scales, this event; period increased hazards for systems susceptible to elevated “radio; blackout” (R3-strong), “solar radiation storm” (S3-strong), and; “geomagnetic storm” (G4-severe) conditions. The purpose of this paper; is to provide an overview of the September 2017 space weather event, and; a summary of its consequences with forecaster, post event analyst and; communication operator perspectives.
