Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on June 3, 2024 at 03:40 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 (May 1, 2024)
Solar cycle Solar cycles 23-25 (June 1, 2024) Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2006 (April 5, 2007)
  Cycle 24-25 progress (June 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 (June 1, 2024) 3rd SSN Workshop, Tucson, 2013
  Comparison of cycles 12-14, 16, 24-25 (June 1, 2024) 4th SSN Workshop, Locarno, 2014
  Solar polar fields vs. solar cycles (March 3, 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 June 2. The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to minor storm 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 179.8 - increasing 8.6 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 161.42. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50. Current SC25 peak: 161.42 on December 3, 2023). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 4 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 3.8). Three hour interval K indices: 01011112 (planetary), 10012122 (Boulder), 01021205 (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 18 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 417) and in 15 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 281) SDO/HMI images.

Region 13691 [N26W45] decayed further losing many spots and most of the penumbral area.
Region 13693 [N06W61] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13695 [N27W29] decayed slightly and was quiet.
Region 13696 [N09W24] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13697 [S18E08] gained area early in the day, then decayed after noon, especially in the southeastern spot section. The leading penumbra which had a strong magnetic delta configuration decayed and fragmented. There is still a delta, but it has weakened. Another major flare is possible.
Region 13698 [N22W04] was mostly quiet and stable.
Region 13699 [N04W33] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13700 [S04W50] produced several C flares, a minor M class flare is possible.
Region 13701 [S05E17] was mostly quiet and stable.
New region 13702 [N17E70] rotated into view on June 1 and was numbered by SWPC the next day.

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S9750 [N22W30] developed slowly and quietly.
S9758 [S07E32] developed slowly and quietly.
S9762 [S14E46] was quiet and stable.
New region S9763 [N03W53] emerged with tiny spots.
New region S9764 [N18W32] emerged with a few spots.
New region S9765 [S17E77] rotated into view with a tiny spot.
New region S9766 [S21W10] was observed with tiny spots in an old plage area.
New region S9767 [S40E36] emerged with a tiny spot.

C2+ flares

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C4.3 00:06   13697 GOES16  
C4.5 00:25   13698 GOES16  
C4.9 00:39   13700 GOES16  
C4.6 01:50   13697 GOES16  
C4.4 01:56   13697 GOES16  
C4.9 02:22   13697 GOES16  
C3.3 02:36   13697 GOES16  
C3.2 02:46   13697 GOES16  
C4.7 03:28   13700 GOES16  
C4.9 03:32   13697 GOES16 incorrectly attributed to AR 13700 by SWPC
C3.8 04:06   13700 GOES16  
C4.4 04:32   13697 GOES16  
M1.2 04:50   13697 GOES16  
C7.5 05:11   13697 GOES16  
C7.7 05:22   13700 GOES16  
C2.4 06:03   13700 GOES16  
C3.5 06:28   13697 GOES16  
C4.0 06:33   13697 GOES16  
C3.5 06:39   13697 GOES16  
C3.2 07:11   13700 GOES16  
C2.7 08:05   13697 GOES16 incorrectly attributed to AR 13700 by SWPC
C3.7 08:27   13697 GOES16  
M2.0 08:50 S19E14 13697 GOES16  
C9.2 09:02   13700 GOES16  
C5.8 09:23   13697 GOES16  
C6.0 09:33   13697 GOES16  
C4.6 09:47   13697 GOES16  
C3.5 10:13   13697 GOES16  
C4.6 10:28   13697 GOES16  
C4.5 10:39   13697 GOES16  
C5.8 10:59   13697 GOES16  
C3.6 12:19   13700 GOES16 simultaneous flare in AR 13697
C3.7 12:38   13697 GOES16  
C2.6 13:00   13697 GOES16  
C2.6 14:02   13700 GOES16  
C2.3 14:35   13697 GOES16  
C2.8 15:30   13700 GOES16  
C2.4 15:39   13697 GOES16  
C3.0 16:36   13697 GOES16  
C4.8 17:04 S16E06 13697 GOES16  
C5.6 17:55 S18E10 13697 GOES16  
C2.4 19:55 S18E09 13697 GOES16  
C2.4 22:01   13697 GOES16  
C2.2 22:22   13697 GOES16  
C3.2 22:32 S04W46 13700 GOES16 simultaneous flare in AR 13697
C2.4 22:45   13697 GOES16  
C2.2 23:13   13697 GOES16  
C2.2 23:53   13697 GOES16  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

May 31 + June 2: No obviously Earth directed CME observed.
June 1: An asymmetrical full halo CME was observed during the M7 long duration event in AR 13697 peaking at 19:39 UT, that event began shortly after 18:45 UT according to SDO/AIA imagery. There is some uncertainty as to whether the M7 flare is the source of the CME. If it is the CME could reach Earth on June 4.

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 positive polarity northern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1224) could rotate across the central meridian on June 4-5.

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 at quiet to unsettled levels on June 3 and initially on June 4. The June 1 CME could reach Earth on June 4 and cause unsettled to major storm conditions.

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
13690 2024.05.23
2024.05.23
1     N17W60 0010 AXX    

location: N16W58

spotless

13691 2024.05.24
2024.05.25
18 23 12 N25W46 0180 DSO DAO

location: N26W45

area: 0080

13693 2024.05.25
2024.05.26
  1   N04W62 0001   AXX location: N06W61
13696 2024.05.25
2024.05.26
  3   N08W28 0006   AXX

location: N09W24

13694 2024.05.26       S12W54           location: S15W43
13695 2024.05.26
2024.05.26
11 19 8 N27W33 0030 CAO DRI

beta-gamma

location: N27W29

area: 0050

13697 2024.05.27
2024.05.28
33 82 45 S18E07 0410 EKC EKC beta-gamma-delta

location: S18E08

area: 0670

S9748 2024.05.27       S22W43            
S9750 2024.05.28   9 4 N22W30 0020   DRO  
13698 2024.05.28
2024.05.30
11 30 14 N22W04 0160 DSI EAI beta-gamma

area: 0300

S9753 2024.05.28       S30W53            
S9755 2024.05.30       N21W41          
13699 2024.05.31
2024.05.31
8 11 9 N04W36 0070 CSO DAO

area: 0120

location: N04W33

13701 2024.05.31
2024.06.01
5 21 15 S04E15 0040 CAO DRI beta-gamma

location: S05E17

S9758 2024.05.31   6 5 S07E32 0060   DRO  
13700 2024.06.01
2024.06.01
8 16 9 S04W52 0180 DAI DAO

area: 0420

location: S04W50

S9760 2024.06.01       N11E38          
13702 2024.06.01
2024.06.02
1 1 1 N17E71 0050 HSX HSX location: N17E70

area: 0130

S9762 2024.06.01   2 2 S14E46 0007   BXO  
S9763 2024.06.02   3 1 N03W52 0005   BXO    
S9764 2024.06.02   4 4 N18W32 0015   CRO    
S9765 2024.06.02   1 1 S17E77 0007   AXX    
S9766 2024.06.02   4 1 S21W10 0010   AXX    
S9767 2024.06.02   1   S40E36 0001   AXX    
Total spot count: 96 237 131  
Sunspot number: 186 417 281  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 141 287 181  (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): 205 229 225  

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  176.4 182.2 160.0 124.4 (-0.9) 8.15
2023.08  153.7 157.6 114.8 124.1 (-0.3) 7.19
2023.09  154.4 156.0 134.2 123.9 (-0.2) 14.26
2023.10  142.8 141.9 99.4 124.8 (+0.9) 8.16
2023.11 153.5 150.2 105.4 127.8 (+3.0) 12.20
2023.12 151.1 146.4 114.2 (128.7 projected, +0.9) 9.60
2024.01 164.6 159.3 123.0 (127.0 projected, -1.7) 5.46
2024.02 172.5 168.3 124.7 (126.2 projected, -0.8) 5.31
2024.03 154.4 152.9 104.9 (125.6 projected, -0.6) 11.03
2024.04 161.3 162.6 136.5 (125.6 projected, -0.0) 9.69
2024.05 187.8 191.9 171.7 (SC25 peak) (126.7 projected, +1.1) 23.6
(current
SC25 peak)
2024.06 183.9 (1)   12.7 (2A) / 190.0 (2B) / 184.1 (2C) (125.9 projected, -0.8) (3.9)
2024.07       (124.2 projected, -1.7)  
2024.08       (122.2 projected, -2.0)  
2024.09       (121.0 projected, -1.2)  
2024.10       (119.6 projected, -1.4)  
2024.11       (114.5 projected, -5.1)  
2024.12       (109.1 projected, -5.4)  

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 April 28, 2024

The big increase in sunspot counts during the April 14-27 interval caused a major uptick in the smoothed SNs and solar flux. It's not yet clear when the next peak will be, anytime between October 28 and December 20, 2023 looks possible. The 365d smoothed solar flux exceeded the June 27 peak on October 28, while the 365d smoothed ISN and NOAA SN both exceeded the June 2023 peak in late October 2023. It should be noted that the current peak using 13-month smoothing is still in June 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.