The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels on August 19. The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to active levels. The above 10 MeV proton flux was at background levels at the end of the day.
Solar flux density measured at 20h UT on 2.8 GHz was 239.1 - increasing 54.1 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 170.26. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50. Current SC25 peak: 170.26 on February 19, 2024). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 8 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 8.3). Three hour interval K indices: 11123333 (planetary), 11023333 (Boulder), 11224344 (Andenes).
The background x-ray flux is at the class C4 level (GOES 16).
At the time of counting spots (see image time), spots were observed in 15 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 386) and in 14 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 268) SDO/HMI images.
AR 13784 [N15W70] decayed slowly losing most of
the magnetic delta configurations. An M class flare is still possible.
AR 13785 [S13W62] produced several flares, including an M flare, and
has polarity intermixing.
AR 13788 [S08W47] was quiet and stable.
AR 13789 [N27W39] developed late in the day and gained a magnetic
delta configuration. An M flare is possible.
AR 13790 [S11E19] developed slowly and could produce a major flare.
AR 13792 [S17E34] was mostly quiet and stable.
AR 13793 [N21E20] decayed quickly and was mostly quiet.
AR 13794 [N18E02] matured and lost many spots.
AR 13795 [N02E57] decayed slowly and quietly.
AR 13796 [S02E56] is a compact spot group and could produce another M
flare.
New AR 13797 [S05W26] emerged on August 17 and was discovered by SWPC
2 days later as the region began to decay.
New AR 13798 [N06E75] rotated into view with a mature spot.
Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted
differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S10025 [N26W24] reemerged with a tiny spot.
S10033 [S11E67] was quiet and stable.
New region S10036 [N20W60] emerged with tiny spots.
C2+ flares
| Magnitude | Peak time (UT) | Location | Source | Recorded by | Comment |
| C3.8 | 01:20 | 13790 | GOES16 | ||
| C7.7 | 01:41 | 13793 | GOES16 | ||
| C4.0 | 03:16 | 13790 | GOES16 | ||
| C4.5 | 03:47 | southeast limb | GOES16 | ||
| C5.5 | 04:22 | 13794 | GOES16 | ||
| C4.3 | 05:14 | 13794 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.6 | 06:07 | 13794 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.7 | 07:07 | 13796 | GOES16 | simultaneous flare in AR 13784 | |
| C4.2 | 08:35 | S09E27 | 13790 | GOES16 | |
| C4.0 | 08:48 | 13784 | GOES16 | ||
| C4.1 | 09:07 | 13785 | GOES16 | ||
| M1.3 | 09:36 | S14W57 | 13785 | GOES16 | |
| C3.3 | 10:34 | 13785 | GOES16 | ||
| C5.7 | 11:37 | 13784 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.6 | 11:50 | 13784 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.2 | 12:34 | 13784 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.6 | 13:24 | southeast limb | GOES16 | ||
| C6.3 | 14:07 | 13785 | GOES16 | incorrectly attributed to later flare in AR 13797 by SWPC | |
| C6.4 | 14:18 | 13797 | GOES16 | ||
| C6.1 | 14:33 | 13785 | GOES16 | ||
| C6.0 | 14:39 | 13785 | GOES16 | ||
| C4.4 | 15:52 | S13E39 | 13792 | GOES16 | |
| C7.1 | 16:29 | S16W63 | 13785 | GOES16 | |
| C6.2 | 16:31 | 13785 | GOES16 | ||
| C5.1 | 17:17 | 13796 | GOES16 | ||
| C4.5 | 17:45 | 13794 | GOES16 | ||
| C4.0 | 19:31 | 13789 | GOES16 | simultaneous flare in AR 13784 | |
| C9.8 | 20:16 | S11E23 | 13790 | GOES16 | |
| M3.7/1N | 21:52 | S03E56 | 13796 | GOES16 | |
| M1.0 | 23:11 | 13796 | GOES16 | ||
| C7.9 | 23:34 | 13784 | GOES16 |
August 17-19: No obviously Earth directed CMEs were observed.
[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 positive polarity northern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1236) was in an Earth facing position on August 18-19. Another positive polarity northern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1237) will rotated across the central meridian on August 20.
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 at quiet to unsettled levels on August 20-21. Quiet to active is possible on August 22 due to effects from CH1236.
| 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.
(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 | ||||||||||
| 13784 | 2024.08.07 2024.08.09 |
14 | 24 | 13 | N16W72 | 0650 | DKC | DKC |
 |
 |
beta-delta location: N15W70 area: 0720 |
| 13785 | 2024.08.09 2024.08.11 |
10 | 24 | 15 | S14W63 | 0080 | CAI | DAI |
 |
 |
beta-gamma location: S13W62 area: 0150 |
| 13788 | 2024.08.10 2024.08.11 |
1 | 3 | 2 | S08W48 | 0090 | HSX | HAX |
 |
 |
location: S08W47 area: 0110 |
| 13789 | 2024.08.10 2024.08.14 |
10 | 31 | 14 | N27W41 | 0040 | CAI | DRI |
 |
 |
beta-delta location: N27W39 area: 0120 |
| 13791 | 2024.08.14 2024.08.16 |
S18E06 |
 |
location: S18E07 | |||||||
| 13790 | 2024.08.15 2024.08.15 |
20 | 51 | 26 | S12E19 | 0400 | DKC | EKC |
 |
 |
beta-gamma location: S11E19 area: 0640 |
| S10021 | 2024.08.15 | N06W49 | |||||||||
| S10022 | 2024.08.15 | S07W17 | |||||||||
| 13792 | 2024.08.16 2024.08.16 |
1 | 8 | 2 | S17E33 | 0350 | CHO | CHO |
 |
 |
location: S17E34 area: 0480 SWPC classification is impossible with just 1 spot |
| 13793 | 2024.08.16 2024.08.17 |
8 | 20 | 13 | N22E20 | 0180 | DAO | DRI |
 |
 |
location: N21E20 area: 0100 |
| S10025 | 2024.08.16 | 1 | N26W23 | 0002 | AXX |
 |
|||||
| S10026 | 2024.08.16 | N15W21 | |||||||||
| 13794 | 2024.08.16 2024.08.17 |
16 | 24 | 15 | N18E03 | 0180 | DAO | DAO |
 |
 |
beta-gamma area: 0360 |
| 13797 | 2024.08.17 2024.08.19 |
8 | 18 | 9 | S05W26 | 0040 | DAI | DRI |
 |
 |
area: 0060 |
| 13796 | 2024.08.17 2024.08.18 |
14 | 24 | 14 | S03E55 | 0180 | DAC | DKC |
 |
 |
location: S02E56 area: 0380 |
| 13795 | 2024.08.17 2024.08.18 |
1 | 1 | N02E55 | 0002 | AXX |
 |
 |
location: N02E57 | ||
| S10031 | 2024.08.17 | N26E36 |
 |
||||||||
| S10032 | 2024.08.17 | S32W08 |
 |
||||||||
| S10033 | 2024.08.18 | 3 | 2 | S11E67 | 0013 | BXO |
 |
 |
|||
| S10034 | 2024.08.18 | N00W06 |
 |
||||||||
| 13798 | 2024.08.19 2024.08.19 |
1 | 1 | 1 | N06E74 | 0050 | HSX | HSX |
 |
was AR S10035 location: N06E75 area: 0130 |
|
| S10036 | 2024.08.19 | 3 | 1 | N20W60 | 0004 | BXO |
 |
||||
| Total spot count: | 103 | 236 | 128 | ||||||||
| Sunspot number: | 213 | 386 | 268 | (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions) | |||||||
| Weighted SN: | 173 | 305 | 197 | (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): | 234 | 212 | 214 | ||||||||
| 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 |
| 2022.11 | 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 |
| 2023.03 | 157.2 | 155.6 | 123.3 | 121.1 (+3.3) | 14.42 |
| 2023.04 | 145.4 | 146.4 | 97.6 | 122.9 (+1.8) | 13.40 |
| 2023.05 | 155.6 | 159.2 | 137.4 | 124.2 (+1.3) | 10.67 |
| 2023.06 | 161.7 | 166.8 | 160.5 | 125.3 (+1.1) | 8.95 |
| 2023.07 | 176.4 | 182.2 | 160.0 | 124.6 (-0.7) | 8.15 |
| 2023.08 | 153.7 | 157.6 | 114.8 | 124.3 (-0.3) | 7.19 |
| 2023.09 | 154.4 | 156.0 | 134.2 | 124.0 (-0.3) | 14.26 |
| 2023.10 | 142.8 | 141.9 | 99.4 | 124.8 (+0.8) | 8.16 |
| 2023.11 | 153.5 | 150.2 | 105.4 | 127.8 (+3.0) | 12.20 |
| 2023.12 | 151.1 | 146.4 | 114.2 | 129.4 (+1.6) | 9.60 |
| 2024.01 | 164.6 | 159.3 | 126.0 | 131.1 (+1.7) | 5.46 |
| 2024.02 | 172.5 | 168.3 | 123.0 | (137.4 projected, +6.3) | 5.31 |
| 2024.03 | 154.4 | 152.9 | 103.7 | (144.1 projected, +6.7) | 11.03 |
| 2024.04 | 161.3 | 162.6 | 136.5 | (148.2 projected, +4.1) | 9.69 |
| 2024.05 | 187.7 | 191.9 | 171.7 | (152.9 projected, +4.7) | 23.56 (SC25 peak) |
| 2024.06 | 184.3 | 190.2 | 164.2 | (156.9 projected, +4.0) | 10.24 |
| 2024.07 | 196.6 (cycle peak) |
203.0 | 196.5 (SC25 peak) | (158.7 projected, +1.8) | 7.13 |
| 2024.08 | 257.8 (1) | 135.6 (2A) / 221.2 (2B) / 225.7 (2C) | (159.1 projected, +0.4) | (18.7) | |
| 2024.09 | (161.0 projected, +1.9) | ||||
| 2024.10 | (162.8 projected, +1.8) | ||||
| 2024.11 | (160.8 projected, -2.0) | ||||
| 2024.12 | (156.4 projected, -4.4) | ||||
| 2025.01 | (150.3 projected, -6.1) | ||||
| 2025.02 | (143.0 projected, -7.3) | ||||
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
Sunspot counts in July 2024 were the highest we've seen for a single month during solar cycle 25. The first part of August has seen very high sunspot counts, and there more than a remote possibility that we'll see activity in August approaching the most active months of solar cycle 23. With at least 4 consecutive months of high sunspot counts the projected peak for the smoothed ISN (365 days smoothing) has increased significantly to above 160. The month of the peak is currently likely to occur sometime between July and November 2024.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
