Solar Wind Stream

Solar Wind & IMF

Monitor live solar wind speed, density, and interplanetary magnetic field conditions before their effects show up in geomagnetic indices. This solar wind and IMF page focuses on plasma flow, southward Bz, and propagated near-Earth context that often sets the stage for geomagnetic storms and stronger aurora conditions.

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Current Conditions
Snapshot values derived from NOAA SWPC live solar wind plasma and IMF feeds.
quiet

Solar Wind Speed

352.8

km/s

Density

5.08

particles/cm3

IMF Bz

2.4

nT

Total Field Bt

4.6

nT

IMF Orientation
The interplanetary magnetic field is the most important upstream control on whether solar wind can couple efficiently into Earth's magnetosphere.

Northward or weak IMF orientation is limiting geomagnetic coupling right now.

Latest Bz

2.4

nT

Latest Bt

4.6

nT

Recent IMF samples

Apr 15, 9:18 PM UTCBz 2.0Bt 4.7
Apr 15, 9:19 PM UTCBz 2.0Bt 4.7
Apr 15, 9:20 PM UTCBz 1.8Bt 4.7
Apr 15, 9:21 PM UTCBz 1.7Bt 4.7
Apr 15, 9:22 PM UTCBz 1.9Bt 4.7
Apr 15, 9:23 PM UTCBz 1.9Bt 4.7
Apr 15, 9:24 PM UTCBz 2.0Bt 4.6
Apr 15, 9:25 PM UTCBz 2.4Bt 4.6
NOAA SWPC Real-Time IMFrealtime
Observed: Apr 15, 9:25 PM UTCFetched: Apr 15, 9:28 PM UTC
View upstream source
Solar Wind Plasma
Speed, density, and temperature show how energetic the upstream solar wind flow is before it interacts with Earth.

Current plasma flow helps show whether the upstream stream is quiet, compressed, or moving fast enough to amplify geomagnetic coupling if the IMF turns southward.

Speed

352.8

km/s

Density

5.08

particles/cm3

Temperature

29,729

K

Recent plasma samples

Apr 15, 9:18 PM UTC346.1 km/s5.23 /cc
Apr 15, 9:19 PM UTC346.9 km/s5.41 /cc
Apr 15, 9:20 PM UTC346.1 km/s5.10 /cc
Apr 15, 9:21 PM UTC347.0 km/s5.07 /cc
Apr 15, 9:22 PM UTC345.9 km/s5.12 /cc
Apr 15, 9:23 PM UTC346.2 km/s5.37 /cc
Apr 15, 9:24 PM UTC352.8 km/s5.96 /cc
Apr 15, 9:25 PM UTC352.8 km/s5.08 /cc
NOAA SWPC Real-Time Solar Wind Plasmarealtime
Observed: Apr 15, 9:25 PM UTCFetched: Apr 15, 9:28 PM UTC
View upstream source
Propagated Geospace Context
NOAA's propagated product helps bridge upstream measurements toward near-Earth conditions as the solar wind approaches geospace.

Propagated speed

352.8

km/s

Propagated Bz

2.0

nT

Propagated Bt

4.6

nT

Earth-arrival estimate

Apr 15, 10:21 PM UTC

NOAA SWPC Propagated Solar Windoperational
Observed: Apr 15, 9:24 PM UTCFetched: Apr 15, 9:28 PM UTC
View upstream source
About This Data
NOAA SWPC live solar wind and magnetic-field products are sampled upstream of Earth, then propagated forward to provide a simple geospace context layer. This page is designed for solar wind monitoring and geomagnetic storm awareness rather than as a formal forecast product.
NOAA SWPC Real-Time Solar Wind Plasmarealtime
Observed: Apr 15, 9:25 PM UTCFetched: Apr 15, 9:28 PM UTC
View upstream source
NOAA SWPC Real-Time IMFrealtime
Observed: Apr 15, 9:25 PM UTCFetched: Apr 15, 9:28 PM UTC
View upstream source
NOAA SWPC Propagated Solar Windoperational
Observed: Apr 15, 9:24 PM UTCFetched: Apr 15, 9:28 PM UTC
View upstream source