The geomagnetic field was quiet on April 22. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 346 and 406 km/sec. The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to minor storm levels.
Solar flux density measured at 20h UT on 2.8 GHz was 141.2 - decreasing 18.2 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 139.76. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 6 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 5.5). Three hour interval K indices: 22100112 (planetary), 23211312 (Boulder), 33111235 (Andenes).
The background x-ray flux is at the class B7 level (GOES 16).
At the time of counting spots (see image time), spots were observed in 13 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 232) and in 11 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 152) SDO/HMI images.
Region 13279 [S19W63] produced a few C flares
while development stalled. C1 flares: C1.0 @ 07:40, C1.0 @ 17:22 UT
Region 13281 [S23W47] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13282 [N12W60] decayed slowly and quietly. The region
currently has a fairly simple magnetic layout, however, an M class flare is
still possible. C1 flares: C1.1 @ 00:56, C1.0 @ 06:19 UT
Region 13283 [S22W26] decayed slowly and was mostly quiet.
Region 13284 [S09E03] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13285 [S18E57] was mostly quiet and stable. C1. flares: C1.2 @
10:07, C1.1 @ 13:17 UT.
Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted
differently) by SWPC:
S8473 [S32W08] decayed slowly and quietly.
S8474 [N20W21] decayed slowly and quietly.
S8475 [N27W03] was quiet and stable.
S8482 [S24E11] decayed slowly and quietly.
S8483 [S11E68] was quiet and stable.
New region S8485 [N15E29] emerged with tiny spots.
New region S8486 [N24E23] was observed with tiny spots in an old
plage area.
Minor update added at 19:25 UT: A strong solar wind shock was observed at 17:00 UT at DSCOVR, the arrival of the April 21 CME. The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field has been strongly southward, so far peaking at -25 nT, which could cause severe geomagnetic storming.
C2+ flares:
| Magnitude | Peak time (UT) | Location | Source | Recorded by | Comment |
| C2.1 | 01:41 | 13279 | GOES16 | ||
| C4.8 | 01:48 | 13279 | GOES16 | ||
| C2.0 | 07:02 | 13279 | GOES16 | ||
| C2.0 | 16:01 | S22W23 | 13283 | GOES16 |
April 20, 22: No obviously Earth directed CMEs were
observed.
April 21: AR 13283 produced a long duration M1.6 flare peaking at
18:12 UT. The flare involved filaments to the east and west of the region
across the central meridian. An EIT wave was observed over large parts of
both the southern and northern hemisphere. A full halo CME was observed
beginning at 18:12 UT in LASCO C2 imagery. Earth could receive an impact on
April 23 or 24, active to severe storm conditions are possible.
[Coronal hole history (since October 2002)]
[Compare today's report to the situation one solar rotation ago:
28 days ago
27 days ago
26 days ago]
A recurrent trans equatorial coronal hole (CH1142) will likely become Earth facing on April 23-25.
Long distance low and medium frequency (below 2 MHz) propagation along paths north of due west over upper middle and high latitudes is poor to fair. Propagation on long distance northeast-southwest paths is poor.
Quiet geomagnetic conditions are likely initially on April 23. Late in the day or early on April 24 the April 21 CME will likely arrive and cause active to severe storm conditions lasting until April 25-26.
| Coronal holes (1) | Coronal mass ejection (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: 0-30% probability, Yellow: 30-70% probability, Red: 70-100% probability.
(Click on image for 2K resolution).
4K resolution.
Compare to the previous day's image. 0.5K image
When available the active region map has a coronal hole polarity overlay where red (pink) is negative and blue is positive.
Data for all officially numbered solar regions according to the Solar Region Summary provided by NOAA/SWPC, all other regions are numbered sequentially as they emerge using the STAR spot number. 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. SWPC data considered to be not sufficiently precise (location, area, classification) are colored red.
| Active region | SWPC date numbered STAR detected |
Spot count | Location at midnight | Area | Classification | SDO / HMI 4K continuum image with magnetic polarity overlays |
Comment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SWPC/ USAF |
Magnetic (SDO) |
SWPC | STAR | Current | Previous | ||||||
| 2K | 1K | ||||||||||
| 13279 | 2023.04.10 2023.04.12 |
4 | 12 | 5 | S19W64 | 0020 | CRO | CRO |
 |
 |
location: S19W63 area: 0040 |
| 13281 | 2023.04.12 2023.04.13 |
3 | 11 | 4 | S22W48 | 0010 | CRO | BXO |
 |
 |
area: 0020 location: S23W47 |
| 13282 | 2023.04.13 2023.04.13 |
12 | 20 | 10 | N12W56 | 0320 | FKI | FHO |
 |
 |
area: 0560 |
| S8463 | 2023.04.13 | N20W47 | |||||||||
| 13283 | 2023.04.13 2023.04.16 |
4 | 14 | 7 | S22W28 | 0010 | BXO | CRO |
 |
 |
area: 0025 location: S22W26 |
| S8466 | 2023.04.13 | S19W33 | |||||||||
| 13284 | 2023.04.17 2023.04.17 |
1 | 7 | 3 | S08E01 | 0010 | AXX | CRO |
 |
 |
location: S09E03 area: 0015 |
| S8473 | 2023.04.19 | 3 | S32W08 | 0004 | BXO |
 |
 |
||||
| S8474 | 2023.04.19 | 3 | N20W21 | 0010 | BXO |
 |
 |
||||
| S8475 | 2023.04.19 | 7 | 1 | N27W03 | 0010 | BXO |
 |
 |
|||
| S8477 | 2023.04.19 | S22W49 | |||||||||
| S8479 | 2023.04.20 | N06E11 | |||||||||
| 13285 | 2023.04.20 2023.04.21 |
3 | 15 | 6 | S17E57 | 0180 | DAO | EKO |
 |
 |
area: 0420 |
| S8481 | 2023.04.20 | S12W26 | |||||||||
| S8482 | 2023.04.21 | 1 | 1 | S24E11 | 0003 | AXX |
 |
 |
|||
| S8483 | 2023.04.21 | 2 | 2 | S11E68 | 0010 | BXO |
 |
 |
|||
| S8485 | 2023.04.22 | 4 | 2 | N15E29 | 0012 | CRO |
 |
||||
| S8486 | 2023.04.22 | 3 | 1 | N24E23 | 0005 | AXX |
 |
||||
| Total spot count: | 27 | 102 | 42 | ||||||||
| Sunspot number: | 87 | 232 | 152 | (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions) | |||||||
| Weighted SN: | 48 | 134 | 74 | (Sum of total spot count + classification weighting for each AR. Classification weighting: X=0, R=3, A/S=5, H/K=10) | |||||||
| Relative sunspot number (Wolf number): | 96 | 128 | 122 | ||||||||
| Month | Average solar flux | International sunspot number (WDC-SILSO) |
Smoothed sunspot number (4) | Average ap (3) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measured | 1 AU | ||||
| 2014.02 | 170.3 (cycle peak) |
166.3 | 146.1 (SC24 peak) | 110.5 | 10.70 |
| 2014.04 | 143.9 | 144.8 | 112.5 | 116.4 (SC24 solar max) | 7.88 |
| 2017.09 | 91.3 | 92.3 | 43.6 | 18.2 (-1.3) | 18.22 (SC24 peak) |
| 2019.11 | 70.2 | 68.7 | 0.5 | 2.0 (-0.6) (Solar minimum using 365d smoothing: November 17, 2019) |
4.19 |
| 2019.12 | 70.8 | 68.6 | 1.6 | 1.8 (-0.2) (ISN 13 months smoothed solar minimum) |
3.22 |
| 2021.09 | 87.0 | 88.2 | 51.3 | 40.2 (+4.8) | 6.33 |
| 2021.10 | 88.9 | 88.3 | 37.4 | 45.2 (+5.0) | 7.38 |
| 2021.11 | 86.2 | 84.4 | 34.8 | 50.8 (+5.6) | 9.83 |
| 2021.12 | 103.0 | 99.8 | 67.5 | 55.9 (+5.1) | 6.40 |
| 2022.01 | 103.8 | 100.5 | 55.3 | 60.1 (+4.2) | 8.92 |
| 2022.02 | 109.1 | 106.5 | 60.9 | 64.7 (+4.6) | 10.46 |
| 2022.03 | 117.0 | 115.8 | 78.6 | 68.7 (+4.0) | 10.20 |
| 2022.04 | 130.8 | 131.7 | 84.0 | 73.0 (+4.3) | 11.79 |
| 2022.05 | 133.8 | 136.8 | 96.5 | 77.4 (+4.4) | 7.48 |
| 2022.06 | 116.1 | 119.8 | 70.3 | 81.1 (+3.7) | 8.20 |
| 2022.07 | 125.4 | 129.5 | 91.4 | 86.7 (+5.6) | 9.51 |
| 2022.08 | 114.2 | 117.1 | 74.6 | 92.5 (+5.8) | 10.92 |
| 2022.09 | 135.1 | 136.5 | 96.0 | 96.4 (+3.9) | 12.18 |
| 2022.10 | 133.5 | 132.7 | 95.5 | (99.0 projected, +2.6) | 11.16 |
| 2022.11 | 123.4 | 120.7 | 80.5 | (102.0 projected, +3.0) | 9.33 |
| 2022.12 | 147.9 | 143.4 | 112.8 | (106.8 projected, +4.8) | 10.99 |
| 2023.01 | 182.4 | 176.6 | 143.6 | (112.9 projected, +6.1) | 8.73 |
| 2023.02 | 167.2 | 163.2 | 110.9 | (117.9 projected, +5.0) | 14.48 (current SC25 peak) |
| 2023.03 | 157.2 | 155.6 | 122.6 | (121.0 projected, +3.1) | 14.42 |
| 2023.04 | 146.6 (1) | 67.1 (2A) / 91.5 (2B) / 143.1 (2C) | (126.4 projected, +5.4) | (7.9) | |
| 2023.05 | (132.1 projected, +5.7) | ||||
| 2023.06 | (135.2 projected, +3.1) | ||||
| 2023.07 | (134.7 projected, -0.5) | ||||
| 2023.08 | (135.7 projected, +1.0) | ||||
| 2023.09 | (139.2 projected, +3.5) | ||||
| 2023.11 | (142.5 projected max SC25) | ||||
1) Running average based on the daily 20:00 UTC observed solar flux value at 2800 MHz
and any corrections applied to that measurement.
2A) Current impact on the monthly sunspot number based on the Boulder (NOAA/SWPC) sunspot number (accumulated daily sunspots / month days).
2B) Boulder SN current month average to date.
2C) STAR SDO 1K Wolf number 30 day average.
3) Running average based on the quicklook and definitive Potsdam WDC ap indices. Values in red
are based on the definitive international
GFZ Potsdam WDC ap indices.
4) Source: SIDC-SILSO.
This report has been prepared by Jan Alvestad. It is based on the analysis of data from whatever sources are available at the time the report is prepared. All time references are to Universal Time. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.
SDO images are courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams.
