Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on June 4, 2023 at 09:50 UT.

Charts (* = updated daily) Data and archive
  Solar wind (*) Solar and geomagnetic data - last month (*)
  Electron fluence (*) Archived daily reports and monthly data since 2003.01 (June 1, 2023)
Solar cycle Solar cycles 23-25 (June 1, 2023) Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2006 (April 5, 2007)
  Cycle 24-25 progress (June 1, 2023) Noon SDO sunspot count 1K image / 4K (*)
  Solar cycles 1-24 (July 1, 2020) POES auroral activity level [October 2009 - December 2012]
  Comparison of cycles 21-25 (June 1, 2023) 3rd SSN Workshop, Tucson, 2013
  Comparison of cycles 12-14, 16, 24-25 (June 1, 2023) 4th SSN Workshop, Locarno, 2014
  Solar polar fields vs. solar cycles (May 29, 2023) Cycle 25 spots (final update December 25, 2019)
  Solar cycles 24-25 transition using 365d smoothing Research: Solar Cycle 25 Started on November 17, 2019 with 365 Days Smoothing

Recent activity

The geomagnetic field was quiet on June 3. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 311 and 395 km/sec. The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to unsettled levels. Early on June 4 a relatively low speed stream associated with CH1150 is causing a geomagnetic disturbance.

Solar flux density measured at 20h UT on 2.8 GHz was 164.9 - increasing 7.7 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 142.17. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 4 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 3.5). Three hour interval K indices: 11110012 (planetary), 11111222 (Boulder), 31110012 (Andenes).

The background x-ray flux is at the class C1 level (GOES 16).

At the time of counting spots (see image time), spots were observed in 16 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 312) and in 13 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 206) SDO/HMI images.

Region 13319 [S18W69] was mostly unchanged and produced a few C flares. An M class flare is possible while the region rotates over the southwest limb.
Region 13320 [N10E05] was mostly quiet and stable.
Region 13321 [S15E15] was quiet and stable.
Region 13323 [S08E35] gained area and spots in the trailing and intermediate spot sections. The region still has major flare potential. C1 flares: C1.7 @ 06:23, C1.7 @ 08:01 UT
Region 13324 [N15W25] decayed slowly and was mostly quiet. C1 flares: C1.9 @ 03:03 UT
Region 13325 [N11W18] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13326 [N25E65] was quiet and stable.

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S8606 [N10E13] developed slowly and quietly.
S8610 [N30E10] reemerged with tiny spots.
S8617 [N10E64] was quiet and stable.
New region S8618 [N18W22] emerged to the north of AR 13324 with tiny spots.
New region S8621 [S13W64] emerged with tiny spots to the north of AR 13319.
New region S8622 [S14E80] rotated into view with a few small and tiny spots. C1 flares: C1.6 @ 17:04, C1.7 @ 17:57 UT
New region S8623 [N15E27] was observed with tiny spots in an old plage area.
New region S8624 [S03W07] emerged with tiny spots.
New region S8625 [S25E27] was observed with tiny spots in an old plage area.

C2+ flares:

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C4.1 00:22   13323 GOES16  
C2.6 01:10 southeast limb S8622 GOES16  
C2.2 01:33   13316 GOES16  
C2.0 07:16 southeast limb S8622 GOES16 incorrectly assigned to AR 13323 by SWPC
C3.3 10:15   13323 GOES16 simultaneous flare behind the northwest limb.
C2.9 11:49 southeast limb S8622 GOES16 incorrectly assigned to AR 13320 by SWPC
C2.6 13:14   13323 GOES16  
C2.8 13:26   13319 GOES16  
C2.2 14:09   13319 GOES16  
C3.4 18:43   S8622 GOES16 simultaneous flare in AR 13319
C3.2 20:56   S8622 GOES16  
C2.4 20:04   13319 GOES16  
C2.8 21:47   13319 GOES16  
C2.5 22:02   13319 GOES16  
C2.0 22:44   S8622 GOES16  
C2.8 23:10   S8622 GOES16  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

June 1-3: No obviously Earth directed CMEs were observed.

Coronal holes

[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 trans equatorial coronal hole (CH1150) rotated across the central meridian on May 31 - June 1. A northern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1152) will likely become Earth facing on June 7.

Propagation

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.

Forecast

Quiet to active conditions are possible on June 4 due to effects from CH1150. Quiet conditions are likely on June 5-7.

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.

Active solar regions


(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
13316 2023.05.24
2023.05.26
      N09W73            
13319 2023.05.27
2023.05.29
13 22 16 S19W70 0200 EAI EKI area: 0500

location: S18W69

S8600 2023.05.27       S11W56            
13320 2023.05.28
2023.05.29
4 4 1 N10E07 0030 CSO CSO area: 0060

location: N10E05

13321 2023.05.29
2023.05.30
1 11 5 S15E13 0180 HAX CHO

area: 0330

location: S15E15

S8606 2023.05.29   11 4 N10E13 0040   DRO  
S8608 2023.05.29       S33W42            
S8609 2023.05.30       N18W10            
S8610 2023.05.30   3   N30E10 0005   AXX    
13324 2023.05.30
2023.06.02
6 10 6 N15W25 0010 BXO BXO  
13323 2023.05.30
2023.05.31
13 55 28 S07E32 0310 EKC EAC

area: 0680

location: S08E35

S8613 2023.06.01       S08E04          
S8614 2023.06.01       N07W58          
13325 2023.06.01
2023.06.02
4 9 6 N11W16 0030 CAO DAO location: N11W18

area: 0080

13326 2023.06.02
2023.06.02
1 2 1 N25E59 0120 HSX HSX location: N25E65

area: 0140

S8617 2023.06.02   2 1 N10E64 0006   AXX  
S8618 2023.06.03   4 1 N18W22 0010   BXO    
S8621 2023.06.03   2 2 S13W64 0006   BXO    
S8622 2023.06.03   6 4 S14E80 0070   CAO    
S8623 2023.06.03   4   N15E27 0006   AXX    
S8624 2023.06.03   2 1 S03W07 0005   AXX    
S8625 2023.06.03   5   S25E27 0007   BXO    
Total spot count: 42 152 76  
Sunspot number: 112 312 206  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 77 200 124  (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): 123 172 165  

Monthly solar cycle data

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
2021.10 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 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 (105.8 projected, +4.8) 10.99
2023.01 182.4 176.6 143.6 (112.2 projected, +6.4) 8.73
2023.02 167.2 163.2 110.9 (117.0 projected, +4.8) 14.48
(current
SC25 peak)
2023.03 157.2 155.6 122.6 (120.1 projected, +3.1) 14.42
2023.04 145.4 146.4 96.4 (125.5 projected, +5.4) 13.40
2023.05 155.6 159.2 137.9 (131.2 projected, +5.7) 10.9
2023.06 163.6 (1)   13.4 (2A) / 134.0 (2B) / 158.2 (2C) (134.3 projected, +3.1) (5.8)
2023.07       (133.8 projected, -0.5)  
2023.08       (134.8 projected, +1.0)  
2023.09       (138.2 projected, +3.4)  
2023.10       (140.1 projected, +1.9)  
2023.11       (142.7 projected max SC25)  
2023.12       (142.6 projected, 0.1)  

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

Solar cycles 24-25

Smoothed SF and sunspot numbers

 

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.