Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on July 11, 2024 at 05:30 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 (July 3, 2024)
Solar cycle Solar cycles 23-25 (July 1, 2024) Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2006 (April 5, 2007)
  Cycle 24-25 progress (July 1, 2024) 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 (July 1, 2024) 3rd SSN Workshop, Tucson, 2013
  Comparison of cycles 12-14, 16, 24-25 (July 1, 2024) 4th SSN Workshop, Locarno, 2014
  Solar polar fields vs. solar cycles (June 17, 2024) 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
Calculating the Strength of Solar Cycle 25 Using 365-day Smoothing

Recent activity

The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels on July 10, very weakly under the influence of a negative polarity coronal hole stream. 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 213.6 - increasing 43.5 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 163.25. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50. Current SC25 peak: 163.32 on January 7, 2024). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 5 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 5.0). Three hour interval K indices: 21111112 (planetary), ******** (Boulder), 31122214 (Andenes).

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

At the time of counting spots (see image time), spots were observed in 20 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 401) and in 17 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 280) SDO/HMI images.

AR 13736 [S20W27] was mostly quiet and stable.
AR 13738 [S09W01] developed slowly and has several small magnetic delta configurations. Many C and M flares were recorded during the day. A major flare is possible.
AR 13739 [N03W74] was mostly quiet and stable.
AR 13740 [S16W56] was quiet and stable.
AR 13741 [N08E22] decayed slowly and quietly.
AR 13742 [S24E58] was mostly quiet and stable. An M class flare is possible.
AR 13743 [S08E50] developed slowly and may be capable of producing a minor M class flare.
AR 13744 [N16E67] was quiet and stable.
New AR 13745 [S18E57] rotated into view on July 8 and was numbered by SWPC 2 days later.

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S9870 [S13W34] reemerged with tiny spots.
S9875 [S18W14] was quiet and stable.
S9884 [N17E09] was quiet and stable.
S9885 [S03E13] was quiet and stable.
S9886 [S23E12] was quiet and stable.
New region S9888 [N14E42] emerged before noon, then decayed slowly.
New region S9889 [N23W09] emerged with small spots.
New region S9890 [S46E06] emerged with tiny spots at a high latitude.
New region S9891 [N14E82] rotated into view with small spots.
New region S9892 [N06E52] was observed with a tiny spot in an old plage area.
New region S9893 [N40E32] emerged with a tiny spot at a high latitude.

C2+ flares

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C3.9 00:05   13738 GOES16  
C4.7 00:15   13738 GOES16  
C4.2 00:31   13738 GOES16  
C3.5 01:09   13738 GOES16  
C2.4 01:43   13738 GOES16  
C2.3 01:50   13738 GOES16  
C2.2 02:07   13743 GOES16  
C2.3 02:13   13743 GOES16  
C8.2 02:59   13738 GOES16  
C3.6 03:34 behind southwest limb   GOES16  
C3.0 04:49   13742 GOES16  
C2.7 05:36   13738 GOES16  
M1.5 05:59 S10E21 13738 GOES16  
C4.3 07:09   13738 GOES16  
C4.4 08:52   13738 GOES16  
C6.9 09:09   13738 GOES16  
C9.1 09:20   13738 GOES16  
M1.3 09:44 S10E10 13738 GOES16  
C7.2 10:10   13738 GOES16  
C4.7 10:34   13738 GOES16  
C6.0 11:00 S10E10 13738 GOES16  
C4.9 11:13   13738 GOES16  
M1.4/1F 12:04 S10E01 13738 GOES16  
C6.9 12:31   13738 GOES16  
C6.9 12:42   13738 GOES16  
M1.1/1F 13:03 S10E01 13738 GOES16 multiple flare centers
C8.7 13:21   13738 GOES16  
C8.5 13:31   13738 GOES16  
M1.0 15:37 S08E03 13738 GOES16  
C3.2 16:45   13738 GOES16  
C3.2 17:43   13738 GOES16  
C6.6 17:59   13738 GOES16  
C6.5 18:13   13739 GOES16  
C4.3 18:41   13738 GOES16  
C3.7 19:32   13738 GOES16  
C6.8/1N 19:50   13738 GOES16  
C8.4 20:18   13738 GOES16  
C4.4 21:14   13738 GOES16  
C5.6 21:39   13738 GOES16  
C5.1 21:54   13738 GOES16  
C3.6 22:45   13738 GOES16  
C4.7 23:03   13738 GOES16  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

July 8-10: No obviously Earth directed CMEs 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 poorly defined negative polarity southern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1230) was in an Earth facing position on July 6-7. A well defined positive polarity northern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1231) will rotate across the central meridian on July 9-11.

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 to fair. Propagation on long distance northeast-southwest paths is poor.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled on July 11 due to potential effects associated with CH1230. Quiet to active conditions are likely on July 12-13 due to effects from CH1231.

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
13734 2024.06.28
2024.06.29
      N08W87           location: N08W81
13735 2024.06.29
2024.06.29
      N17W75            
13736 2024.07.02
2024.07.03
3 11 4 S19W28 0040 HSX CSO location: S20W27

area: 0080

S9859 2024.07.03       S27W24            
13739 2024.07.04
2024.07.06
1 5 2 N04W71 0010 BXO CRO location: N03W74
13738 2024.07.04
2024.07.05
83 86 59 S10E01 0870 FHC FKC beta-gamma-delta

area: 1100

location: S09W01

SWPC spot count is high for them, maybe a typo, 53 is more likely

13740 2024.07.04
2024.07.06
2 3 2 S18W61 0010 AXX CRO

location: S16W56

area: 0015

S9869 2024.07.05       N27W53            
S9870 2024.07.06   3   S13W34 0005   AXX    
S9872 2024.07.06       S07W15            
13741 2024.07.07
2024.07.07
1 4 1 N08E22 0010 AXX BXO area: 0007
13742 2024.07.07
2024.07.09
2 14 5 S24E42 0080 ESO FHO area: 0300

location: S24E58

SWPC position is way off

S9875 2024.07.07   1 1 S18W14 0005   AXX  
S9876 2024.07.07       N21W45            
S9877 2024.07.07       S24W31          
13743 2024.07.08
2024.07.09
3 25 12 S09E48 0060 DAO DAI area: 0180

location: S08E50

S9880 2024.07.08       N09W26            
13745 2024.07.08
2024.07.10
2 8 6 S17E58 0020 CRO DRO area: 0060

location: S18E57

S9882 2024.07.08       S11W27            
13744 2024.07.09
2024.07.09
3 9 5 N15E65 0170 CSO DAO

area: 0320

location: N16E67

S9884 2024.07.09   8 3 N17E09 0020   BXO  
S9885 2024.07.09   5 2 S03E13 0007   BXO  
S9886 2024.07.09   3 1 S23E12 0006   AXX  
S9888 2024.07.10   6 3 N14E42 0012   BXO    
S9889 2024.07.10   3 2 N23W09 0025   DRO    
S9890 2024.07.10   3   S46E06 0004   BXO    
S9891 2024.07.10   2 1 N14E82 0020   HRX    
S9892 2024.07.10   1 1 N06E52 0002   AXX    
S9893 2024.07.10   1   N40E32 0001   AXX    
Total spot count: 100 201 110  
Sunspot number: 190 401 280  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 133 251 160  (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): 209 221 224  

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
2022.10 133.5 132.7 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
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 (128.9 projected, -0.5) 5.46
2024.02 172.5 168.3 123.0 (129.4 projected, +0.5) 5.31
2024.03 154.4 152.9 103.7 (130.3 projected, +0.9) 11.03
2024.04 161.3 162.6 136.5 (131.0 projected, +0.7) 9.69
2024.05 187.7
(cycle peak)
191.9 171.7 (SC25 peak) (133.2 projected, +2.2) 23.56
(SC25 peak)
2024.06 184.3 190.2 164.2 (134.9 projected, +1.7) 10.24
2024.07 173.8 (1)   45.9 (2A) / 142.4 (2B) / 162.2 (2C) (134.7 projected, -0.2) (5.8)
2024.08       (134.1 projected, -0.6)  
2024.09       (134.4 projected, +0.1)  
2024.10       (134.3 projected, -0.1)  
2024.11       (132.3 projected, -2.0)  
2024.12       (128.0 projected, -4.3)  
2025.01       (124.0 projected, -4.0)  

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 July 5, 2024

Sunspot counts in June 2024 were almost at the level of May 2024 and the second highest month during solar cycle 25. Looking at the projected activity for the remainder of this year, solar max now looks likely to occur between May and October 2024. A big decrease in sunspot formation in July 2024 and over the next months could change the projected maximum to earlier in 2024 or even to December 2023.

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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.