propagation

Solar and geomagnetic activity increased as expected during August (this column went to press early in September). Solar activity ranged from very low to moderate levels during the end of August, starting with the flare activity originating from Active (Sunspot) Region (AR) 3085 as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center (NOAA / SWPC). Activity levels picked up on August 25^th with weak M-class (R1-Minor) activity recorded from AR 3088 and AR 3089.

A further increase in activity was observed on August 26^th with moderate flaring (R2-Moderate) from AR 3089 in the form of an M7.2 flare. Then, August 27^th saw four M-class flares from AR 3088, the largest an M4.8, with associated Type II and Type IV Sweeps and a 130 SFU (Solar Flux Unit) 10.7-cm burst.

R2-Moderate flare activity was then observed on August 28^th in the form of an M6.7 flare. Associated with this event was a Type IV Sweep and an 1,800-SFU 10.7-cm burst.

Throughout the latter half of the highlight period, a variety of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) were seen lifting off the Sun’s southwestern limb as observed by LASCO and STEREO coronagraph imagery. These delivered