Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on June 19, 2023 at 07:30 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 to unsettled on June 18, weakly under the influence of effects related to CH1153. Solar wind speed at DSCOVR ranged between 370 and 462 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 164.1 - increasing 2.6 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 143.85. 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: 7.8). Three hour interval K indices: 32122232 (planetary), 23132323 (Boulder), 55233353 (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 15 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 347) and in 13 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 217) SDO/HMI images.

Region 13331 [S22W80] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13332 [S09W68] was quiet and stable.
Region 13333 [S11W18] was mostly quiet and stable. The region could produce a minor M class flare.
Region 13334 [N16E12] was mostly quiet and stable.
Region 13335 [S14E08] lost the magnetic delta and was mostly quiet. M class flares are possible. C1 flares: C1.4 @ 03:02 UT
Region 13336 [S21E15] has many tiny spots. Despite the lack of obvious magnetic complexity, the region was the source of both of the M class flares recorded during the day. C1 flares: C1.5 @ 11:24 UT
Region 13337 [N18E31] reemerged with tiny spots.
Region 13338 [N11E29] began to decay and was quiet.
Region 13339 [S19E57] was quiet and stable.
New region 13340 [N22E58] emerged on June 17 and was numbered by SWPC the next day as the region developed further. C1 flares: C1.7 @ 02:08, C1.5 @ 12:21, C1.8 @ 19:06 UT

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S8669 [N17W44] was quiet and stable.
S8675 [S21W46] developed slowly and quietly.
New region S8676 [S12E69] emerged before noon and was quiet.
New region S8677 [S12E86] rotated partly into view. C1 flares: C1.8 @ 06:42, C1.9 @ 16:21, C1.9 @ 23:21, C1.8 @ 23:58 UT
New region S8678 [S01E12] emerged with a tiny spot.

C2+ flares:

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C2.0 00:12   13335 GOES16  
M1.3 00:31   13336 GOES16  
C2.5 05:05   13334 GOES16  
C2.1 05:35 S15E18 13335 GOES16  
C2.0 07:57   13340 GOES16  
C2.1 09:36   13336 GOES16  
M2.5/2N 13:53   13336 GOES16 LDE, CME
C2.1 22:00   13340 GOES16  
C2.7 22:39   S8677 GOES16  
C3.0 22:47   13336 GOES16  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

June 16-18: 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 recurrent trans equatorial coronal hole (CH1153) rotated across the central meridian on June 12-17. A southern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1154) was Earth facing on June 16-17, however, CH1154 closed on June 17.

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 to fair.

Forecast

Quiet to unsettled geomagnetic conditions are expected for June 19-21 due to weak effects from CH1153 and CH1154.

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
13331 2023.06.06
2023.06.07
2 2 1 S23W80 0050 HSX HRX

area: 0025

13332 2023.06.07
2023.06.07
2 6 3 S10W71 0010 AXX CRO

location: S09W68

area: 0025

S8639 2023.06.09       S13W38            
S8646 2023.06.10       S30W23            
S8649 2023.06.10       S20W34            
S8651 2023.06.11       S12W51            
S8652 2023.06.11       N18W24            
13333 2023.06.12
2023.06.13
13 38 22 S11W19 0200 EAI EAI beta-gamma
13334 2023.06.13
2023.06.13
  24 5 N16E07 0040   BXO

location: N16E12

13336 2023.06.13
2023.06.14
5 24 7 S22E17 0030 CRO CRO

area: 0050

location: S21E15

13335 2023.06.13
2023.06.14
18 38 20 S15E10 0360 EKI EHI beta-gamma

area: 0420

location: S14E08

S8661 2023.06.14       N22E16            
13337 2023.06.14
2023.06.15
  7 1 N17E31 0010   BXO   location: N18E31
13338 2023.06.14
2023.06.15
6 20 10 N11E31 0120 CAO EAO

area: 0170

location: N11E29

S8665 2023.06.15       S13W47            
S8667 2023.06.15       N27W30            
S8668 2023.06.15       N17W56            
S8669 2023.06.16   9 4 N17W44 0020   CRO  
S8670 2023.06.16       N07E39            
13339 2023.06.16
2023.06.17
1 1 1 S19E56 0120 HSX HHX area: 0270

location: S19E57

S8672 2023.06.17       N20W38          
13340 2023.06.17 6 16 6 N23E59 0100 CAO CAO  
S8674 2023.06.17       S23W32          
S8675 2023.06.17   8 6 S21W46 0030   CRO  
S8676 2023.06.18   2 1 S12E69 0008   CRO    
S8677 2023.06.18   1   S12E86 0010   AXX    
S8678 2023.06.18   1   S01E12 0002   AXX    
Total spot count: 53 197 87  
Sunspot number: 133 347 217  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 91 250 140  (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): 146 191 174  

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) 10.67
2023.06 160.2 (1)   76.7 (2A) / 127.9 (2B) / 164.4 (2C) (134.3 projected, +3.1) (8.0)
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.