Coronal mass ejection of 4 April 2000 and associated space weather effects

The effects of a Halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) erupted on 4 April 2000 are studied and reported here. The effect of such CME on the interplanetary medium (IPM) is sensed by the Interplanetary Scintillation (IPS) recorded at Rajkot. The Solar Observations of this CME and associated events, like Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) and flare, are presented. CME events with high speeds and negative magnetic field components have higher possibility of penetrating the earth's shield, viz. the magnetosphere. The 4 April 2000 CME with a high speed and southward component of IMF produced a big geomagnetic storm with Dst reaching -288nT. Simultaneous ionospheric effects in F layer heights and auroral observations are reported. Such events are important in Space Weather Studies as these pose hazards to space operations including satellite communications and surveillance systems.