Aotearoa Summary Updated. 15 February 2023 - 19 February 2023
17 February. George Sound 4.1 5.35pm Southwest of Snares Islands 4.5 10.24am EMSC Southwest of Snares Islands 4.8 3.25pm EMSC The spectacular 16 February geomagnetic storm has brought a continuation of the moderate quake period in New Zealand. Quakes moved into Fiordland and further south. A strong coronal mass ejection during the 17 February 2000UTC X2 flare from sunspot 3229 is unlikely to impact Earth. Sunspot 3229 is moving around to face Earth in 3-4 days and further flares may then affect Earth. Aotearoa Quake Summary. 16 February 1.00pm Angry sunspot 3217 has had its claws into every aspect of weather and quakes last few days. First came the power up to Cat 3 of Cyclone Gabrielle in the Coral Sea with the 9 February X1 solar flare from sunspot 3217. The sunspot maintained strength, firing multiple M and C class flares, heating the upper atmosphere with each flare, allowing Cyclone Gabrielle to maintain strength for several days. The 11 February X1 flare and coronal mass ejection from sunspot 3217 arrived at Earth on 15 February with a Pacific tectonic response, including New Zealand. Sunspot 3217 is fading today but nearby sunspot 3226 has gained strength and started flaring, continuing the Xray storm for another day. Flaring sunspot 3226 is passing over the Western Pacific as this summary is posted. Thunderstorms and giant hail already forecasted for this afternoon over the North Island could be severe if sunspot 3226 flares as it passes overhead. In addition to the week long solar Xray storm, yesterdays geomagnetic storm is also adding energy to weather and tectonic systems. Today the minor Kp5 geomagnetic storm has weakened and changed magnetic orientation, disconnecting the solar wind from Earth's magnetosphere for a while... The connection between solar flares, weather and tectonic activity is demonstrated today in New Zealand and the Pacific. 15 February. 50km NW Kapiti Island 5.7 7.38pm (6.3 Geonet) 45km SW Taumarunui 4.0 8.00pm Pahala, Hawaii 4.8 8.27pm 16 February. 50km NE White Island 5.0 3.48am Luzon, Philippines 6.1 7.10am Aotearoa Earthquake and Volcano Forecast Service © 2013 - 2024 |
