From cdeehr at gi.alaska.edu  Wed Jan 16 10:13:25 2008
From: cdeehr at gi.alaska.edu (Charles Deehr)
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:13:25 -0900
Subject: [gse-aa] Auroral Alert
Message-ID: <000101c85873$e4541c60$ec1be589@Forcastle>

During the minimum in solar activity (2006-2010), the aurora occurs closer
to the pole than during solar maximum (2011-2016).  During active periods at
solar minimum, the aurora reaches the Canadian border, but rarely expands
farther south.  Aurora watchers must therefore travel to see the aurora.
For suggestions on this on where and when to travel go to the auroral
forecast page at http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/ and click on
"Traveler's Guide".

Auroral activity during sunspot minimum tends to follow the rotation of the
sun and recurs every 28 days.  While there are some changes between
rotations, we can predict the most active days during each rotation up to 54
days in advance.  

The active periods during the next two solar rotations are as follows:
Feb 1-6, Feb 9-16, Feb 25-Mar 1, Mar 5-11.

We will update in approximately 2 weeks.

Dr. Charles Deehr, Prof. Emer. Phys.     Ph. 907 474 7473 Fax 907 474 7290
email cdeehr at gi.alaska.edu
The Geophysical Institute                     
University of Alaska Fairbanks
903 Koyukuk Ave N             
Fairbanks, Alaska  99775-7320