Space weather and health

[Jhanananda]

Jan 16, My morning blood sugar reading this morning was 138

Real-Time Geomagnetic Conditions total magnetic field (scalar) TUC Tucson Geomagnetic station 47483.0nT to 47522.8nT, a variation of 39.8nT, with a mean of about 47520nT.


NASA shares spectacular images of first M-class solar flare of 2015

The first remarkable solar flare of 2015 was captured on Monday by the US space agency NASA.

According to the American space agency, the incredible sun unleashed a relatively strong and powerful solar flare at 11:24 pm EST on Monday.

The M-class solar flare was captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.

This might explain my recent increase in joint pain.

[Jhanananda]

Jan 17, My morning blood sugar reading this morning was 171
Real-Time Geomagnetic Conditions total magnetic field (scalar) TUC Tucson Geomagnetic station 47489.8nT to 47522.6nT, a variation of 32.8nT, with a mean of about 47520nT.

Space Weather reported more solar activity:

Space Weather Message Code: WATA20
Serial Number: 596
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 16 2112 UTC

WATCH: Geomagnetic Storm Category G1 Predicted

Highest Storm Level Predicted by Day:
Jan 17:  G1 (Minor)   Jan 18:  G1 (Minor)   Jan 19:  None (Below G1)

THIS SUPERSEDES ANY/ALL PRIOR WATCHES IN EFFECT

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Spacecraft - Minor impact on satellite operations possible.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes, i.e., northern tier of the U.S. such as northern Michigan and Maine.

[Jhanon]

My joint pain is severe today, which is an increase from yesterdays increased joint pain as well.

I just stumbled across a list of the solar storms for the last 4 years.  It might be interesting for people to compare these dates with any physical or emotional crises.

Peak Dst, Name, Date
0   5 April 2010   2010-04-05
30   14 February 2011   2011-02-14
-93   26 September 2011   2011-09-26
-66   23 January 2012   2012-01-23
-119   1 October 2012   2012-10-01
-120   1 June 2013   2013-06-01
-95   19 February 2014   2014-02-19
0   12 September 2014   2014-09-12

Also, the dates you provided of past storms; while I did not cross-reference with documents, intuitive memory shows these were times when I lost jobs, entered deep depressions, or was homeless.

[Jhanananda]

Jan 18, My morning blood sugar reading this morning was 180
Real-Time Geomagnetic Conditions total magnetic field (scalar) TUC Tucson Geomagnetic station 47487.9nT to 47523.5nT, a variation of 35.6nT, with a mean of about 47520nT.
Jan 19, My morning blood sugar reading this morning was 154
Real-Time Geomagnetic Conditions total magnetic field (scalar) TUC Tucson Geomagnetic station 47496.6nT to 47528.3nT, a variation of 31.7nT, with a mean of about 47520nT.
Jan 20, My morning blood sugar reading this morning was 140
Real-Time Geomagnetic Conditions total magnetic field (scalar) TUC Tucson Geomagnetic station 47504.4nT to 47529.3nT, a variation of 24.9nT, with a mean of about 47515nT.

Good to know, Jhanon. I expect that most people on planet earth are having a hard time during solar storms, but no one is paying attention.

[Jhanon]

Yeah, that seems to be a recurring theme. I've stopped pointing it out unless someone shows signs of noticing something. No sense in making them realize they're uncomfortable! At least, it has not yet yielded any positive results for me.

[Jhanananda]

Jan 21, My morning blood sugar reading this morning was 111

I was just noticing that my joint pain had finally reduced dramatically, and my injured knee was finally making a significant recovery, and my blood sugar has finally come down very well, then...

Real-Time Geomagnetic Conditions total magnetic field (scalar) TUC Tucson Geomagnetic station 47499.1nT to 47530.3nT a variation of 31.2nT, with a mean of about 47525nT.

Space Weather reported 7 more significant solar events today:

EXTENDED WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected
Extension to Serial Number: 2439
Valid From: 2015 Jan 21 1400 UTC
Now Valid Until: 2015 Jan 22 1400 UTC
Warning Condition: Persistence

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska.

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Space Weather Message Code: ALTK04
Serial Number: 1757
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 21 2056 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 4
Threshold Reached: 2015 Jan 21 2052 UTC
Synoptic Period: 1800-2100 UTC
 
Active Warning: Yes

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Weather Message Code: WARK05
Serial Number: 958
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 21 1855 UTC

EXTENDED WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 5 expected
Extension to Serial Number: 957
Valid From: 2015 Jan 21 1400 UTC
Now Valid Until: 2015 Jan 21 2300 UTC
Warning Condition: Persistence

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Spacecraft - Minor impact on satellite operations possible.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes, i.e., northern tier of the U.S. such as northern Michigan and Maine.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Weather Message Code: WARK06
Serial Number: 251
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 21 1555 UTC

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-Index of 6 expected
Valid From: 2015 Jan 21 1600 UTC
Valid To: 2015 Jan 21 1900 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset
NOAA Scale: G2 - Moderate

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 55 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms.
Spacecraft - Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible.
Radio - HF (high frequency) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes.
Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Weather Message Code: WARK05
Serial Number: 957
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 21 1356 UTC

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 5 expected
Valid From: 2015 Jan 21 1400 UTC
Valid To: 2015 Jan 21 1900 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset
NOAA Scale: G1 - Minor

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Spacecraft - Minor impact on satellite operations possible.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes, i.e., northern tier of the U.S. such as northern Michigan and Maine.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Weather Message Code: WARK04
Serial Number: 2439
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 21 1339 UTC

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected
Valid From: 2015 Jan 21 1400 UTC
Valid To: 2015 Jan 22 0300 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska.

[Jhanananda]

Jan 22, My morning blood sugar reading this morning was 146

Joint pain is still in abeyance.

Real-Time Geomagnetic Conditions total magnetic field (scalar) TUC Tucson Geomagnetic station 47489.2nT to 47520.7nT a variation of 31.5nT, with a mean of about 47520nT.

Space Weather reported 6 more significant solar events today:

Space Weather Message Code: WATA20
Serial Number: 597
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 22 2111 UTC

WATCH: Geomagnetic Storm Category G1 Predicted

Highest Storm Level Predicted by Day:
Jan 23:  None (Below G1)   Jan 24:  None (Below G1)   Jan 25:  G1 (Minor)

THIS SUPERSEDES ANY/ALL PRIOR WATCHES IN EFFECT

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Spacecraft - Minor impact on satellite operations possible.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes, i.e., northern tier of the U.S. such as northern Michigan and Maine.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Weather Message Code: WARK04
Serial Number: 2440
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 22 0247 UTC

EXTENDED WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected
Extension to Serial Number: 2439
Valid From: 2015 Jan 21 1400 UTC
Now Valid Until: 2015 Jan 22 1400 UTC
Warning Condition: Persistence

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK04
Serial Number: 1757
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 21 2056 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 4
Threshold Reached: 2015 Jan 21 2052 UTC
Synoptic Period: 1800-2100 UTC
 
Active Warning: Yes

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Weather Message Code: WARK05
Serial Number: 958
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 21 1855 UTC

EXTENDED WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 5 expected
Extension to Serial Number: 957
Valid From: 2015 Jan 21 1400 UTC
Now Valid Until: 2015 Jan 21 2300 UTC
Warning Condition: Persistence

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Spacecraft - Minor impact on satellite operations possible.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes, i.e., northern tier of the U.S. such as northern Michigan and Maine.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Weather Message Code: WARK06
Serial Number: 251
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 21 1555 UTC

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-Index of 6 expected
Valid From: 2015 Jan 21 1600 UTC
Valid To: 2015 Jan 21 1900 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset
NOAA Scale: G2 - Moderate

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 55 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms.
Spacecraft - Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible.
Radio - HF (high frequency) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes.
Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Weather Message Code: WARK05
Serial Number: 957
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 21 1356 UTC

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 5 expected
Valid From: 2015 Jan 21 1400 UTC
Valid To: 2015 Jan 21 1900 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset
NOAA Scale: G1 - Minor

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Spacecraft - Minor impact on satellite operations possible.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes, i.e., northern tier of the U.S. such as northern Michigan and Maine.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Sam Lim]

I can't stand it. Your pain is killing me!!!! I can only hope you get well.

I can only hope.

[Jhanananda]

Thank-you, gandarloda, for expressing your thoughts of concern.  I believe that I am getting closer to a solution to my various inflammatory conditions.  Here is part of it:

Alexander Chizhevsky

Alexander Chizhevsky Russian: Алекса́ндр Леони́дович Чиже́вский (also Aleksandr Leonidovich Tchijevsky) (7 February 1897 – 20 December 1964) was a Soviet-era interdisciplinary scientist, a biophysicist who founded "heliobiology" (study of the sun’s effect on biology) and "aero-ionization" (study of effect of ionization of air on biological entities).[1] He also was noted for his work in "cosmo-biology", biological rhythms and hematology."[2] He may be most notable for his use of historical research (historiometry) techniques to link the 11-year solar cycle, Earth’s climate and the mass activity of peoples.[1]

Sunspots and mass excitability

Chizhevsky proposed that not only did geomagnetic storms resulting from sunspot-related solar flares affect electrical usage, plane crashes, epidemics and grasshopper infestations, but human mental life and activity. Increased negative ionization in the atmosphere increased human mass excitability. Chizhevsky proposed that human history is influenced by the eleven-year peaks in sunspot activity, triggering humans en masse to act upon existing grievances and complaints through revolts, revolutions, civil wars and wars between nations.[6]

[Jhanananda]

SUNSPOT CYCLE CORRELATIONS
David Williams
Article first published online: 15 DEC 2006
DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1961.tb50027.x

BEVERIDGE ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND CYCLES BEFORE "THE GENERAL THEORY"
Robert W. Dimand
History of Economic Ideas
Vol. 7, No. 3 (1999), pp. 33-51
Published by: Accademia Editoriale

[Jhanananda]

Physical Factors of ' the Historical Process
by Alexander Chizhevsky

Do Solar Storms Influence Our Behavior?
One of the more fascinating Cosmist thinkers, a polymath, interdisciplinary scientist now highly honored in Russia but still little known in the West, was Alexander Chizhevsky (1867-1964), a gulag survivor in the 1940s for whom an asteroid was named in the 1970s, a heliobiologist who began his academic career writing about eighteenth century Russian poetry, later considered a leading candidate for a Nobel Prize in chemistry. During the Stalin years, he was found guilty of incorrect thought, of trying to reverse the course of scientific progress, turn chemistry back into alchemy and astronomy back into astrology. His "crime" was to have published a seminal work on the influence of solar storms on human history. His other groundbreaking studies, in aero-ionizization, had led to more eggs from hens and higher worker productivity in factories -- investigations that had won him drawers full of ribbons and medals. But to have suggested that it was not great Comrades Lenin and Stalin and their correct understanding of historical necessity that had led to the Great October Revolution, but sunstorms? -- to the gulag!

Chizhevsky, of course, had never argued that periodic bursts of solar energy were the sole or even prime cause of human events -- just that they were an important contributing factor, and could trigger actions that had been building up from a variety of other causes. He called his study of the correlation between periodic cycles of solar and human activity "historiometry" and presented his ideas in a 1918 doctoral dissertation "Analysis of Periodicity in the Worldwide Process," which was published a few years later as "Physical Factors of the Historical Process."...

As evidence for the correlation between cosmic and human periodicity, Chizhevsky produces graphs and charts showing sunspots and major historical events from the fifth century B.C. through the 1917 Revolution. He finds that the pattern of peaks and valleys of solar eruption are almost exactly identical to the peaks of war, revolution, and other manifestations of "mass excitability," and the valleys of peace, creativity, and "minimal mass excitability."

[Jhanananda]

Jan 23, My morning blood sugar reading this morning was 123. Still little to-no joint pain.  Blood sugar is down 20 points from yesterday.  The rise in yesterday's blood sugar of 35 points over the previous day may very well have had to do with the increase in solar activity.

Real-Time Geomagnetic Conditions total magnetic field (scalar) TUC Tucson Geomagnetic station 47500.0nT to 47522.6nT a variation of 22.6nT, with a mean of about 47515nT.

Space Weather reported no more significant solar events.

[Jhanananda]

Jan 24, My morning blood sugar reading this morning was 152. A small increase in joint pain has been noticed.  Blood sugar is up 29 points from yesterday. 

Real-Time Geomagnetic Conditions total magnetic field (scalar) TUC Tucson Geomagnetic station 47501.2nT to 47530.5nT varying 29.3nT, with a mean of about 47515.

TUC - Tucson
Sun, 25 Jan 2015 02:50:00 GMT

    Current F47517 nT
    Nominal F47993 nT
    Change in F-476 nT

Space Weather reported no more significant solar events.

I really do not know what to look for.  I am guessing that there will be some significant peaks or valleys in the geomagnetic record.  What I have seen so far is 20-45nT variations, but they do not seem to correlate with variations in my health.  So, I looked at the record of geomagnetic storms on the USGS website.

geomagnetic storm 1 June 2013
Peak Dst -120 nT
The sudden commencement of this storm reached 41 nT, placing it in the 70th percentile (30% of storms have a larger sudden commencement). The main phase of this storm had a minimum of -120nT, placing it in about the 65th percentile. The storm development was simple, with a single main phase depression which was seen fairly uniformly at low-latitudes.

I noticed that the F channel had a peak of 47699.2nT and a valley of 47626.2nT which had a differential of 67.0nT.  It was about 200nT over the present conditions, which seems significant.

[Jhanananda]

Jan 25, My morning blood sugar reading this morning was 133. Blood sugar is down almost 20 points from yesterday.  A small, but continued, increase in joint pain has been noticed. 

Real-Time Geomagnetic Conditions total magnetic field (scalar) TUC Tucson Geomagnetic station 47496.1 nT to 47524.4nT varying 28.3nT, with a mean of about 47515.

TUC - Tucson
Sun, 25 Jan 2015 15:45:00 GMT

    Current F47524 nT
    Nominal F47993 nT
    Change in F-469 nT

Space Weather reported no more significant solar events.

Geomagnetically Induced Currents

Geomagnetically-induced currents (GICs) flowing along electric power-transmission systems and other electrically-conducting infrastructure are produced by a naturally induced geo-electric field during geomagnetic disturbances. An extreme example of this type of occurrence was the great magnetic storm of March 1989, which was one of the largest geomagnetic disturbances of the twentieth century. Rapid geomagnetic field variation during this storm led to the induction of electric currents in the Earth's crust. These currents caused wide-spread blackouts across the Canadian Hydro-Quebec power grid, resulting in the loss of electric power to more than 6 million people (Allen, 1989; Czeck, 1992; Boteler, 1998; Kappenman, 1996, 2003; Thomson, 2010). If a similar storm-induced blackout had occurred in the Northeastern United States, the economic impact could have exceeded $10 billion (NRC, 2008; Baker et al., 2009; NRC report, 2009) not counting the negative impact on emergency services and the reduction in public safety associated with the loss of electric power in large cities.

GIC levels are primarily driven by impulsive geomagnetic disturbances created by the interaction between the Earth's magnetosphere and sharp velocity, density, and magnetic field enhancements in the solar wind. These disturbances result in ground-level time varying magnetic fields, which, when they reach high levels, produce GICs. On average, 200 days of strong to severe geomagnetic storms that could produce GICs on the surface of the Earth can be expected during a typical 11-year solar cycle (DoE-NERC, 2010). However, knowing exact levels of induced currents in power grid infrastructure during a geomagnetic event requires knowledge of deep earth conductivities and transmission line design parameters (NERC, 2012).

The Sun is at solar maximum! Solar Cycle 24 is seeing a second, higher peak in the sunspot number. (Updated)
Now tracking Space Weather Conditions

[Jhanananda]

Jan 26, My morning blood sugar reading was 163. My blood sugar is up 30 points from yesterday.  A small, but continued, increase in joint pain has been noticed. 

At around 4:00 PM Tuesday, Mountain Time (MT) (11:00 PM Tuesday, Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) ) I experienced extreme joint pain.  However, I found relief from joint pain in my grounded van.  I slept well there all night, relatively free of joint pain.

Real-Time Geomagnetic Conditions total magnetic field (scalar) TUC Tucson Geomagnetic station 47479.2 nT to 47527.9nT varying 48.7nT, with a mean of about 47505.

At 9:11GMT there was a sharp peak on the H and F channels, and a sharp trough on the E channel. The F channel read 47524.2 nT.

About 4PM GMT there was an RI level solar burst with an X-ray flux, but that occurred after my joint pain onset.

TUC - Tucson
Mon, 26 Jan 2015 23:59:00 GMT

    Current F47507 nT
    Nominal F47993 nT
    Change in F-486 nT

A friend sent me a link for the Space Weather Prediction Center.  I found it very useful.  There I found a graph of solar wind activity, which showed considerable disturbance from roughly 01 to 09 UTC 01-27-2015.

Space Weather reported 3 significant solar events in the last 24 hours:

Space Weather Message Code: WARK04
Serial Number: 2443
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 26 1455 UTC

EXTENDED WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected
Extension to Serial Number: 2442
Valid From: 2015 Jan 26 0102 UTC
Now Valid Until: 2015 Jan 26 1900 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK04
Serial Number: 1758
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 26 1045 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 4
Threshold Reached: 2015 Jan 26 1044 UTC
Synoptic Period: 0900-1200 UTC
 
Active Warning: Yes

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Weather Message Code: WARK04
Serial Number: 2442
Issue Time: 2015 Jan 26 0100 UTC

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected
Valid From: 2015 Jan 26 0102 UTC
Valid To: 2015 Jan 26 1500 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.
Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska.

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