Last major update issued on February 13, 2010 at 06:30 UTC.
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The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled on February 12. Solar wind speed ranged between 301 and 379 km/s.
Solar flux measured at 20h UTC on 2.8 GHz was 95.5. The planetary A index was 6 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 5.5). Three hour interval K indices: 13211211 (planetary), 23311211 (Boulder).
The background x-ray flux is at the class B3 level.
At midnight there were 3 spotted regions on the visible solar disk.
Region 11045 decayed further and lost penumbra on the trailing spots.
The region will begin rotating over the northwest limb today.
Region 11046 developed early in the day, however, penumbral area and spot
count decreased after the major flare. Flares:
C7.9/1N at 07:25 and a major impulsive M8.3/1N flare at 11:26 UTC. The latter
event was accompanied by a partial halo CME.
Spotted regions not numbered by NOAA/SWPC:
New region S751 emerged quickly to the northeast of region 11045. Further
M class flares are possible. Flares: M1.1/2F
at 18:08, C1.3 at 20:51 and C3.0 at 22:40 UTC.
February 10-11: No obvious Earth directed CMEs were observed in LASCO images.
February 12: A partial halo CME was observed in LASCO images after the M8
flare in region 11046. This CME could reach Earth on February 15 and cause
unsettled to active conditions.
Coronal hole history (since late October 2002)
Compare today's report to the situation one solar rotation ago:
28 days ago
27 days ago
26 days ago
A coronal hole (CH392) in the northern hemisphere was in an Earth facing position on February 11-12.
Processed SOHO/EIT 195 image at 23:12 UTC on February 12. The darkest areas on the solar disk are likely coronal holes.
Long distance low and medium frequency (below 2 MHz) propagation along paths north of due west over high and upper middle latitudes is poor to fair. Propagation on long distance northeast-southwest paths is poor.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be and quiet on February 13-14. On February 15-16 there is a chance of unsettled to active conditions due to CME and coronal hole effects.
Coronal holes (1) | Coronal mass ejections (2) | M and X class flares (3) |
1) Effects from a coronal hole could reach Earth
within the next 5 days. When the high speed stream has arrived the
color changes to green.
2) Effects from a CME are likely to be observed at Earth within 96 hours.
3) There is a possibility of either M or X class flares within the next 48 hours.
Green: 0-20% probability, Yellow: 20-60% probability, Red: 60-100% probability.
Compare to the previous day's image.
Data for all numbered solar regions according to the Solar Region Summary provided by NOAA/SWPC. Comments are my own, as is the STAR spot count (spots observed at or inside a few hours before midnight) and data for regions not numbered by SWPC or where SWPC has observed no spots. SWPC active region numbers in the table below and in the active region map above are the historic SWPC/USAF numbers.
Active region | Date numbered | SWPC spot count |
STAR spot count |
Location at midnight | Area | SWPC Classification |
Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11045 | 2010.02.06 | 5 | 3 | N19W63 | 0090 | FSO | area was 0070 at midnight, classification CSO, location: N23W67 |
11046 | 2010.02.07 | 13 | 13 | N24E00 | 0130 | ESC | location was N23E03 at midnight |
11047 | 2010.02.08 | S18E17 | plage | ||||
S751 | 2010.02.12 | 4 | N26W53 | 0050 | DAO | ||
Total spot count: | 18 | 20 | |||||
SSN: | 38 | 50 |
Month | Average measured solar flux | International sunspot number (SIDC) | Smoothed sunspot number | Average Ap (3) |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000.04 | 184.2 | 125.5 | 120.8 cycle 23 sunspot max. |
|
2000.07 | 202.3 | 170.1 | 119.8 | |
2001.12 | 235.1 | 132.2 | 114.6 (-0.9) | |
2008.07 | 65.7 | 0.5 | 2.8 (-0.4) | |
2008.12 | 69.2 | 0.8 | 1.7 (-) sunspot minimum |
3.25 |
2009.01 | 69.8 | 1.3 | 1.8 (+0.1) | 3.70 |
2009.02 | 70.0 | 1.4 | 1.9 (+0.1) | 4.68 |
2009.03 | 69.2 | 0.7 | 2.0 (+0.1) | 4.85 |
2009.04 | 69.7 | 1.2 | 2.2 (+0.2) | 4.52 |
2009.05 | 70.5 | 2.9 | 2.3 (+0.1) | 4.75 |
2009.06 | 68.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 (+0.4) | 5.22 |
2009.07 | 68.2 | 3.5 | 3.6 (+0.9) | 5.49 |
2009.08 | 67.3 | 0.0 | (5.0 predicted, +1.4) | 5.70 |
2009.09 | 70.5 | 4.2 | (6.8 predicted, +1.8) | 3.88 |
2009.10 | 72.6 | 4.6 | (8.7 predicted, +1.9) | 3.66 |
2009.11 | 73.6 | 4.2 | (10.7 predicted, +2.0) | 2.45 |
2009.12 | 76.7 | 10.6 | (12.9 predicted, +2.2) | 1.41 / 1.92 |
2010.01 | 81.1 | 13.1 | (15.4 predicted, +2.5) | 2.93 / 3.07 |
2010.02 | 85.0 (1) | 15.8 (2) | (18.3 predicted, +2.9) | (4.71) |
1) Running average based on the
daily 20:00 UTC observed solar flux
value at 2800 MHz.
2) Unofficial, accumulated value based on the Boulder (NOAA/SWPC) sunspot number. The official international sunspot number is typically
30-50% lower.
3) Running average based on the
daily SWPC ap indices. Values in red are based on
official NGDC ap indices.
This report has been prepared by Jan Alvestad. It is based partly on my own observations and analysis, and partly on data from some of these solar data sources. All time references are to the UTC day. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.