Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Last major update issued on December 24, 2024 at 05:55 UT. Revised on February 14, 2025 based on archived SDO/HMI images

Recent activity

The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels on December 23 under the influence of a high speed stream from CH1263. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 509 and 650 km/sec, averaging 567 km/sec (-58 km/sec compared to the previous day). The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to minor storm levels. The above 10 MeV proton flux decreased slowly and was at 1.8 pfu at the end of the day.

Solar flux density measured at 20h UT on 2.8 GHz was 238.3 - increasing 16.0 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 188.57. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50 while SC23 peaked on February 23, 2002 at 198.15. Current SC25 peak: 188.57 on June 24, 2024 (given a base solar flux level of 65, this is +53.50% compared to the SC24 peak and -7.20% compared to the SC23 peak). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 11 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 11.4). Three hour interval K indices: 32212333 (planetary), 31213333 (Boulder), 43102455 (Andenes).

The background x-ray flux is at the class C2 level (GOES 16).

At the time of counting spots, spots were observed in 19 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 557) and in 18 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 373) images.

AR 13926 [S20W34] was quiet and stable.
AR 13927 [S07W02] was quiet and stable.
AR 13928 [S14E05] decayed slowly losing spots. The magnetic delta configuration disappeared, while minor polarity intermixing remains.
AR 13929 [N15W10] was quiet and stable.
AR 13930 [S22W74] decayed losing spots area and the magnetic delta configuration. Several C flares were recorded.
AR 13931 [N24W08] decayed slowly and quietly.
AR 13932 [S18E29] extended gaining spots and two tiny magnetic delta configurations. Many flares were recorded including a major M9 event just before noon.
AR 13933 [S08E07] gained a few spots and has polarity intermixing. M flares are likely.
AR 13934 [N12E27] was finally split by SWPC with the trailing spots becoming AR 13936.
AR 13935 [S18E56] was quiet and stable.
New AR 13936 [N13E40] was split off from AR 13934. The region has polarity intermixing and a tiny magnetic delta in the leading penumbra. M flares are possible.
New AR 13937 [S12E66] rotated into view on December 22 and was numbered the next day by SWPC.

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S10491 [S03W12] reemerged with tiny spots.
S10495 [N17E15] was quiet and stable.
S10499 [S11W40] developed slowly and quietly.
S10501 [N17W15] developed slowly and quietly.
New region S10502 [N31E48] emerged with tiny spots.
New region S10503 [N20E78] rotated into view with several spots. A northwestern penumbra has a magnetic delta configuration and M class flaring is likely.
New region S10504 [S12E25] emerged with tiny spots.

C2+ flares

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

December 20: A faint CME was observed late in the day and may have been associated with a flare in AR T101 (then located at N22E08). The CME could reach Earth on December 24.
December 21-22: Numerous CMEs were observed, most with either a backsided or limb origin.
December 23: A large CME was observed after the M8 flare in AR 13932 just before noon. The CME could reach Earth after noon on December 25.

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 negative polarity southern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1263) rotated across the central meridian on December 19-20.

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

The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled on December 24, but with a possibility of active intervals should the December 20 CME reach Earth. Quiet to severe storm levels are possible on December 25-26 due to effects from the December 23 CME.

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.

Monthly solar cycle data

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

Update on the progress of solar cycle 25 as of December 10, 2024

Sunspot activity in November 2024 decreased compared to October and there is a trend towards lower levels since August 2024. The average solar flux for November was the fourth highest for a month during SC24. The above plot displays a projected peak for the ISN 365d smoothed sunspot numbers in October 15, 2024. All the other smoothed sunspot number have projected peaks either in late November or early December. Assuming that the average sunspot numbers in December 24 decreases significantly over the previous months, and then slowly until mid 2025, an earlier peak near July 9, 2024 becomes possible. Currently SC25 is tracking much closer to SC23 than to SC24.

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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.