Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on November 24, 2023 at 08:25 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 (November 5, 2023)
Solar cycle Solar cycles 23-25 (November 1, 2023) Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2006 (April 5, 2007)
  Cycle 24-25 progress (November 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 (November 1, 2023) 3rd SSN Workshop, Tucson, 2013
  Comparison of cycles 12-14, 16, 24-25 (November 1, 2023) 4th SSN Workshop, Locarno, 2014
  Solar polar fields vs. solar cycles (July 10, 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 November 23 under the weakening influence of effects from CH1187. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 386 and 544 km/sec. The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to active levels.

Solar flux density measured at 20h UT on 2.8 GHz was 194.2 - increasing 66.7 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 156.96. 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: 6.0). Three hour interval K indices: 33311000 (planetary), 22322211 (Boulder), 34221000 (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: 351) and in 14 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 235) SDO/HMI images.

Region 13489 [S13W09] decayed slowly and was mostly quiet.
Region 13491 [N10E18] was quiet and stable.
Region 13492 [N20E23] decayed slowly and was less active than during the previous days.
Region 13493 [S12E32] developed slowly and was mostly quiet.
Region 13494 [S17E37] was mostly quiet and stable.
Region 13496 [N07W05] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13497 [N18E11] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13498 [S11W54] decayed slowly and quietly.
New region 13499 [S17E04] emerged with several spots on November 22 and was numbered by SWPC the following day.
New region 13500 [S18E64] rotated into view on November 22 and developed slowly on November 23 when it was numbered by SWPC. The region is complex and compact and could produce a major flare.
New region 13501 [S09E72] rotated into view on November 22 and received its NOAA number the next day.

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S9156 [N22E12] developed slowly and could produce another M flare. The region still has weak magnetic delta structures in the southern part.
S9164 [S08W54] decayed slowly and quietly.
S9171 [N08W03] decayed slowly and quietly.
S9172 [N15E28] displayed signs of decay during the latter half of the day. M class flares are still possible.
New region S9174 [N21E85] began to rotate into view late in the day. This region may have been the source of an M1.4 limb event early in the day.

C2+ flares:

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C5.4 01:45   13492 GOES18 simultaneous flare in AR 13500
M1.4 03:38 behind northeast limb S9174? GOES18  
C7.8 05:44 N19E35 13492 GOES18  
C6.7 07:14 N15E34 S9172 GOES18  
C3.2 08:44   13492 GOES18  
C3.6 09:37   13492 GOES18  
C2.7 10:23   13492 GOES18  
C2.7 11:20   13500 GOES18  
C5.3 12:46   S9156 GOES18  
C6.2 13:14   13500 GOES18  
M1.1 14:37   S9156 GOES18  
C3.8 15:21   13493 GOES18  
C5.9 15:38 N21E17 S9156 GOES18  
C2.4 16:42   13492 GOES18  
C2.0 17:59   13489 GOES18  
C2.6 18:28   S9172 GOES18  
C3.3 18:41   13492 GOES18  
C3.8 19:21   S9172 GOES18  
C3.3 19:44   S9164 GOES18  
C9.1 20:39   S9156 GOES18  
C4.0 21:05   S9156 GOES18  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

November 21, 23: No obviously Earth directed CMEs were observed.
November 22: A filament eruption in the southeast quadrant early in the day was associated with a partial halo CME. This CME may have an Earth directed component, in which case we could see geomagnetic effects on November 25. Another filament eruption in the southwest quadrant late in the day may have been associated with another partial halo CME, however, it is uncertain if this CME has any Earth directed component.

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 well defined positive polarity northern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1187) was Earth facing on November 18. A positive polarity northern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1189) will be Earth facing on November 23-24.

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

The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet on November 24. If the Nov.22 CMEs reach Earth, we could see unsettled to active conditions on November 25-26. Effects from CH1189 could cause quiet to minor storm conditions on November 26-27.

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: 0-30% 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
S9141 2023.11.13       N25W50            
13488 2023.11.14
2023.11.14
      N31W46        

location: N29W42

S9149 2023.11.16       S08W49            
13489 2023.11.16
2023.11.17
7 26 11 S14W09 0120 CAI CAO

location: S13W09

S9151 2023.11.16       S24W32            
13497 2023.11.18
2023.11.20
  11 5 N16E08 0020   BXO location: N18E11

SWPC includes this region in AR 13490

S9156 2023.11.18   16 9 N22E12 0230   DAC beta-delta

SWPC apparently considers this region as two groups (13490 and 13495)

13490 2023.11.18 10     N21E11 0160 DAC        
S9157 2023.11.18       N13W31            
13492 2023.11.18
2023.11.20
26 32 18 N19E24 0320 EKC EAI beta-gamma

area: 0460

13491 2023.11.18
2023.11.19
2 11 3 N11E18 0060 HSX CAO location: N10E18

area: 0090

13496 2023.11.19
2023.11.20
  2   N09W06 0004   AXX location: N07W05
13493 2023.11.20
2023.11.20
2 11 6 S12E32 0070 CSO DSO

area: 0170

S9162 2023.11.20       S17E24            
13494 2023.11.20
2023.11.20
1 4 2 S17E37 0050 HSX CAO

area: 0160

13495 2023.11.20 1     N25E18 0010 AXX       apparently the spots in  the northeastern part of AR S9156
S9164 2023.11.20   3 1 S08W54 0005   AXX  
S9166 2023.11.20       S33E22            
13498 2023.11.21
2023.11.21
4 5 4 S12W65 0040 CAO DAO

location: S11W54

S9167 2023.11.21       S09W58            
13500 2023.11.22
2023.11.23
6 19 9 S18E65 0520 DKO DKC beta-delta

area: 0670

13499 2023.11.22
2023.11.23
6 23 12 S18E04 0090 DSI DRI location: S17E04
13501 2023.11.22
2023.11.23
1 1 1 S10E73 0120 HSX HSX area: 0170

location: S09E72

S9171 2023.11.22   7 4 N08W03 0012   BXO  
S9172 2023.11.22   19 10 N15E28 0320   DAC beta-delta
S9173 2023.11.22       N11E46          
S9174 2023.11.23   1   N21E85 0020   HRX    
Total spot count: 66 191 95  
Sunspot number: 176 351 235  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 126 252 156  (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): 194 193 188  

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
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 92.6 (+5.9) 10.92
2022.09 135.1 136.5 96.0 96.5 (+3.9) 12.18
2022.10 133.5 132.7 95.5 98.9 (+2.4) 11.16
2022.11 123.4 120.7 80.5 101.2 (+2.3) 9.33
2022.12 147.9 143.4 112.8 106.7 (+5.5) 10.99
2023.01 182.4 176.6 144.4 113.3 (+6.6) 8.73
2023.02 167.2 163.2 111.3 117.8 (+3.5) 14.48
(current
SC25 peak)
2023.03 157.2 155.6 123.3 121.0 (+3.2) 14.42
2023.04 145.4 146.4 97.6 122.7 (+1.7) 13.40
2023.05 155.6 159.2 137.4 (124.7 projected, +2.0) 10.67
2023.06 161.7 166.8 160.5 (127.9 projected, +3.2) 8.95
2023.07  176.4 182.2 159.1 (128.3 projected, +0.4) 8.15
2023.08  153.7 157.6 114.8 (130.1 projected, +1.8) 7.19
2023.09  154.4 156.0 133.6 (133.5 projected, +3.4) 14.26
2023.10  142.8 141.9 99.4 (135.2 projected, +1.7) 8.16
2023.11 146.7 (1)   68.0 (2A) / 88.7 (2B) / 107.2 (2C) (137.8 projected max SC25, +2.6) (12.8)
2023.12       (137.1 projected, -0.7)  
2024.01       (134.4 projected, -2.7)  
2024.02       (134.2 projected, -0.2)  
2024.03       (133.7 projected, -0.5)  
2024.04       (134.5 projected, +0.8)  
2024.05       (135.8 projected, +1.3)  

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

Solar cycles 24-25

Smoothed SF and sunspot numbers

Update on the progress of solar cycle 25 as of August 20, 2023

Looking back 6 months, the 365d smoothed values for solar flux and all sunspot numbers with the exception of NOAA's, are all above their solar cycle 24 peak. The first peak of solar cycle 25 is forecast to be between July 7 and 10, 2023 (solar flux on July 7, ISN and STAR 1K and 2K all have that peak on July 9, while NOAA peaks on July 10). This is unlikely to be the final peak of SC25, however, there is a small probability that it is the actual sunspot and solar flux maximum.

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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.