:Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2001 Jan 30 2112 UT Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 22 - 28 January 2001 Solar activity was at low to moderate levels during the period. Moderate levels occurred on 24, 26, and 28 January due to isolated M-class flares from several different regions. Activity was at low levels on 22 and 23 January but increased to moderate levels on 24 January due to an M1/2f flare at 24/1447 UTC from Region 9311 (N06, L=335, class/area Dao/140 on 24 January). This flare occurred during a period of gradual growth in the region. Activity returned to low levels on 25 January due to the occurrence of only C-class flares. An M1/1b flare on 26 January at 26/0607 UTC from Region 9325 (N10, L=184, class/area Hsx/050 26 January) with an associated Type II radio sweep increased activity levels back to moderate. Only isolated low-level C-class subflares occurred on 27 January. Activity increased to moderate levels on 28 January with an isolated M1/1n flare at 28/1603 UTC from Region 9313 (S04, L=272, class/area Cso/030 on 28 January) with an associated full halo CME. Significant decay was observed in Region 9313 just prior to the flare. Active Region 9306 (N12, L=058) is scheduled to return on 02 February. Data were available from the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft for most of the period. A shock passed the spacecraft at approximately 23/1008 UTC, presumably associated with the full halo CME observed on 20 January. The IMF Bz oscillated but stayed predominately positive after the shock. There were no significant transient or high speed stream signatures observed during the period. An enhancement of the greater than 10 MeV proton flux at geosynchronous orbit was observed on 22 January and presumably related to the CME on 20 January. On 23 January the 10 MeV protons remained slightly enhanced (at about 2 pfu) and did not increase following the shock passage. The 10 MeV protons returned to baseline levels on 25 January. On 28 January a greater than 10 MeV proton event at geosynchronous orbit began at 28/2025 UTC following an M1/1n flare from Region 9313. The proton event had reached a peak of 23 pfu's at the end of the period and was still increasing. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels during most of the period, reaching high levels only momentarily on 28 January. The geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to active levels during most of the period. Activity levels briefly increased to minor storm conditions during the 22/0900 - 1200 UTC interval. An isolated period of minor storm conditions was detected at high latitudes on 25 January during the 1200 - 1500 UTC interval. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 31 January - 26 February 2001 Solar activity is expected to be at mostly low levels with isolated M-class flares possible sometime during the period. No proton events are expected during the period. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels during 31 January with a fair chance for some isolated storm periods. This activity is expected in response to the CME activity observed on 28 January. Activity is expected to taper off on 01 February and be at quiet to unsettled levels for the remainder of the period, barring another Earth-directed CME. .