The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled on July 22 due to weak CME influences. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 361 and 475 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 174.4 - increasing 19.6 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 148.15. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 8 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 7.9). Three hour interval K indices: 33221012 (planetary), 42322312 (Boulder), 53223114 (Andenes).
The background x-ray flux was at the class C1 level (GOES 16).
At the time of counting spots (see image time), spots were observed in 11 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 238) and in 10 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 167) SDO/HMI images.
Region 13372 [N22W68] decayed in the trailing
spot section, however, it still managed to produce numerous sub flares and
the largest flare of the day. C1 flares: C1.8 @ 16:01, C1.7 @ 17:48 UT
Region 13373 [N07W39] decayed slowly in the intermediate spot section
and lost the magnetic delta configurations.
Region 13376 [N22W24] was quiet and stable.
Region 13377 [S09E07] was quiet and stable.
Region 13378 [S27W29] decayed slowly and lost several spots.
Region 13379 [N14E31] decayed in the trailing spot section losing all
mature penumbra on the spots there.
Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted
differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S8775 [S25E08] was quiet and stable.
New region S8788 [S18W30] emerged before noon with
tiny spots.
New region S8789 [S11E85] rotated partially into view.
New region S8790 [N32W08] was observed with tiny spots in an old
plage area.
C2+ flares:
| Magnitude | Peak time (UT) | Location | Source | Recorded by | Comment |
| M3.1/2N | 03:37 | N21W55 | 13372 | GOES16 | |
| M1.0/1F | 04:16 | N08W25 | 13373 | GOES16 | CME? |
| C2.5 | 07:30 | southeast limb? | GOES16 | ||
| C7.1/1N | 11:01 | N25W52 | 13372 | GOES16 | |
| C2.2 | 12:07 | 13372 | GOES16 | ||
| C2.5 | 13:01 | 13372 | GOES16 | ||
| C2.6 | 13:39 | 13372 | GOES16 | ||
| C2.6 | 21:42 | 13376 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.1 | 23:24 | N05W43 | 13373 | GOES16 |
July 20-21: No obviously Earth directed CMEs were
observed.
July 22: An extensive filament eruption
was observed beginning in the northeast quadrant at approximately 20:28 UT.
A partial halo CME was observed off the northeast limb and the north pole.
It is uncertain if the CME has any Earth directed components.
[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 southern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1161) was in an Earth facing position on July 18.
Long distance low and medium frequency (below 2 MHz) propagation along paths north of due west over upper middle and high latitudes is poor. Propagation on long distance northeast-southwest paths is poor.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet on July 23-25. There is some uncertainty regarding the July 22 CME. If there is an Earth directed component, we could see unsettled to active conditions on July 25 and 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 | ||||||||||
| 13371 | 2023.07.10 2023.07.11 |
S15W81 |
location: S15W75 |
||||||||
| 13372 | 2023.07.11 2023.07.11 |
7 | 11 | 6 | N25W64 | 0280 | EKO | FKO |
 |
 |
area: 0460 location: N22W68 |
| 13373 | 2023.07.13 2023.07.14 |
20 | 47 | 31 | N08W43 | 0480 | EKC | FKC |
 |
 |
beta-gamma area: 0590 location: N07W39 |
| 13374 | 2023.07.13 2023.07.14 |
3 | 1 | S08W40 | 0005 | BXO |
 |
location: S09W34 | |||
| S8771 | 2023.07.15 | S32W31 | |||||||||
| 13376 | 2023.07.15 2023.07.17 |
1 | 9 | 3 | N23W26 | 0060 | HSX | CSO |
 |
 |
area: 0160 location: N22W24 |
| 13377 | 2023.07.17 2023.07.17 |
4 | 16 | 7 | S08E07 | 0200 | DAO | DHO |
 |
 |
area: 0490 |
| S8775 | 2023.07.17 | 4 | S25E08 | 0005 | BXO |
 |
 |
||||
| S8777 | 2023.07.17 | S19W37 | |||||||||
| 13378 | 2023.07.18 2023.07.19 |
4 | 8 | 1 | S26W27 | 0040 | CSO | CSO |
 |
 |
area: 0080 location: S27W29 |
| 13379 | 2023.07.18 2023.07.19 |
7 | 18 | 10 | N16E35 | 0260 | FHO | FKO |
 |
 |
area: 0530 location: N14E31 |
| S8780 | 2023.07.18 | N19E33 | included in AR 13379 | ||||||||
| S8781 | 2023.07.18 | N14W09 |
 |
||||||||
| S8782 | 2023.07.19 | N12W06 | |||||||||
| S8783 | 2023.07.19 | S25W51 | |||||||||
| S8784 | 2023.07.20 | S43E38 |
 |
||||||||
| S8785 | 2023.07.20 | S18W56 | |||||||||
| S8786 | 2023.07.21 | N10E05 | |||||||||
| S8788 | 2023.07.22 | 6 | 5 | S18W30 | 0020 | BXO |
 |
||||
| S8789 | 2023.07.22 | 3 | 2 | S11E85 | 0230 | HSX |
 |
||||
| S8790 | 2023.07.22 | 3 | 1 | N32W08 | 0007 | AXX |
 |
||||
| Total spot count: | 43 | 128 | 67 | ||||||||
| Sunspot number: | 103 | 238 | 167 | (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions) | |||||||
| Weighted SN: | 88 | 183 | 122 | (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): | 114 | 131 | 134 | ||||||||
| 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 |
| 2021.12 | 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 | 98.7 (+2.3) | 11.16 |
| 2022.11 | 123.4 | 120.7 | 80.5 | 101.0 (+2.3) | 9.33 |
| 2022.12 | 147.9 | 143.4 | 112.8 | 106.6 (+5.6) | 10.99 |
| 2023.01 | 182.4 | 176.6 | 143.6 | (113.7 projected, +6.1) | 8.73 |
| 2023.02 | 167.2 | 163.2 | 110.9 | (118.5 projected, +4.8) | 14.48 (current SC25 peak) |
| 2023.03 | 157.2 | 155.6 | 122.6 | (121.6 projected, +3.1) | 14.42 |
| 2023.04 | 145.4 | 146.4 | 96.4 | (127.0 projected, +5.4) | 13.40 |
| 2023.05 | 155.6 | 159.2 | 137.9 | (132.7 projected, +5.7) | 10.67 |
| 2023.06 | 161.7 | 166.8 | 163.4 | (135.9 projected, +3.2) | 8.95 |
| 2023.07 | 178.7 (1) | 100.8 (2A) / 142.1 (2B) / 158.2 (2C) | (135.4 projected, -0.5) | (8.2) | |
| 2023.08 | (136.4 projected, +1.0) | ||||
| 2023.09 | (139.8 projected, +3.4) | ||||
| 2023.10 | (141.6 projected, +1.8) | ||||
| 2023.11 | (144.2 projected max SC25, +2.6) | ||||
| 2023.12 | (143.4 projected, -0.1) | ||||
| 2024.01 | (140.1 projected, -3.3) | ||||
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: WDC-SILSO, Royal Observatory
Of Belgium, Brussels
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.
