Don Savage/Doug Isbell
Headquarters, Washington, DC                 September 25, 1997
(Phone:  202/358-1547)

Barbara McGehan 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Space Environment Center, Boulder, CO
(Phone:  303/497-6288)


RELEASE:  97-215

MODERATE SOLAR STORM EXPECTED 
TO HAVE FEW EFFECTS ON EARTH

     The NOAA Space Environment Center (SEC) in Boulder, CO, using 
data from its GOES weather satellites and the U.S. Air Force 
network of optical and radio observatories, detected several 
moderate to large solar flares on Sept. 23 and 24.  Scientists at 
NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission 
operations center verified that these events did expel some solar 
material into the solar system.  Forecasters at SEC expect the 
resulting geomagnetic storm to be in the minor category.  It 
should impact the Earth late on Sept. 26, continuing through the 
next day.  

     According to SEC space forecaster Dave Speich, geomagnetic 
storms of this level usually produce a minor effect on low 
orbiting satellites, radio wave propagation and mineral surveying.  
Typically, these storms are accompanied by short periods of 
intense activity when severe storming may occur in the Earth's 
magnetic field.  During these times, it is possible for pipelines 
and electrical transmission lines to be affected.  However,  no 
significant outages in services to the general public are 
expected.

     "These are just moderate flares from a small active region on 
the Sun," said Dr. Bill Wagner, Solar Physics Discipline 
Scientist, Office of Space Science, NASA Headquarters, Washington, 
DC.  "Based on our observations this week, we do not expect that 
the crews of the Mir space station and the Shuttle will experience 
any appreciable effects from the solar storm to their electronics 
and other systems."

     This solar storm also poses no additional health risks from 
radiation to the crews in space, according to the Space Radiation 
Analysis Group (SRAG) at NASAÕs Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX.  
NOAA space weather forecasters will notify the SRAG of any 
potential solar events that might warrant NASA's response to solar 
activity.  

     SOHO is a joint NASA/European Space Agency mission.  Over the 
next four days NASA will be observing this event using the Polar, 
Geotail and Wind spacecraft, which are missions in the Internation 
Solar Terrestrial Physics Program. 

     Stills and movie images of the events on the Sun may be seen 
on the
Internet at:

          http://umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/eit/cme/#MORETON

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