Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on June 4, 2024 at 05:10 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 to active levels on June 3. The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to active levels. A disturbance was observed reaching SOHO at 20:36 UT. The source of this disturbance is likely a CME. 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 186.0 - decreasing 17.6 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 161.47. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50. Current SC25 peak: 161.47 on December 4, 2023). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 9 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 8.6). Three hour interval K indices: 11121124 (planetary), 22222224 (Boulder), 31123334 (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 15 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 409) and in 14 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 290) SDO/HMI images.

Region 13691 [N25W61] decayed further and was mostly quiet.
Region 13695 [N27W40] decayed further and produced the largest flare of the day.
Region 13697 [S18W05] gained spots and still has multiple magnetic delta configurations. A major flare is possible.
Region 13698 [N22W18] was mostly quiet and stable.
Region 13699 [N04W47] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13700 [S04W65] matured and became less active.
Region 13701 [S05E03] was mostly quiet and stable.
Region 13702 [N17E57] was mostly quiet and stable.
New region 13703 [S07E17] was first observed with spots on May 31, then developed quickly on June 2-3 as new flux emerged. The region has multiple small magnetic delta configurations and could produce M flares.
New region 13704 [S18E62] rotated into view on June 2 and was numbered the next day by SWPC.
New region 13705 [N19W47] emerged on June 2 with SWPC numbering the region the following day. Slow decay was observed.

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S9750 [N23W42] was mostly quiet and stable.
S9766 [S21W23] was quiet and stable.
New region S9768 [S12E42] emerged with several spots.
New region S9769 [N09E73] emerged with a tiny spot.

C2+ flares

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C8.9/1B 00:30 S17E06 13697 GOES16  
C3.1 02:15 N13E74 (SDO/AIA) 13702? GOES16 flare location between ARs 13702 and S9769
simultaneous flare behind the southwest limb, location: S07W90 (SDO/AIA)
C2.6 04:26   13700 GOES16  
C3.2 04:36   13691 GOES16  
C3.1 04:51   13697 GOES16  
C6.6 05:11   13697 GOES16  
M1.0 05:17   13697 GOES16 multiple flare centers
C6.1 06:00   13691 GOES16 simultaneous flare in AR 13697
C5.6 06:50   13697 GOES16  
C2.5 07:59 S19E01 13697 GOES16  
C3.2 08:15   13697 GOES16  
C3.0/1F 08:46 S17E02 13697 GOES16  
C4.9 09:30 S19E01 13697 GOES16  
C2.2 10:51   13697 GOES16  
C5.1 11:43   13697 GOES16  
M3.2/1N 11:55 S19W01 13697 GOES16  
M2.8 12:27   13697 GOES16  
C3.4 13:45   13698 GOES16  
M4.8/2N 14:11 N28W42 13695 GOES16  
C3.6 15:45   13697 GOES16  
C2.2 17:20   13697 GOES16  
C2.9 19:35   13703 GOES16  
C8.3 21:49   13697 GOES16  
C8.1 22:08   13697 GOES16  
C3.9 22:47   S9750 GOES16  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

June 2-3: 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 minor storm levels on June 4-5 due to CME effects. Quiet to unsettled conditions are likely on June 6.

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
      N17W74          

location: N16W71

13691 2024.05.24
2024.05.25
8 15 8 N26W60 0080 DSO CAO

location: N25W61

area: 0050

13693 2024.05.25
2024.05.26
      N04W77         location: N06W74
13696 2024.05.25
2024.05.26
      N08W42        

location: N09W37

13694 2024.05.26       S12W68           location: S15W56
13695 2024.05.26
2024.05.26
11 9 4 N27W47 0050 CAO HRX

location: N27W40

13697 2024.05.27
2024.05.28
33 108 60 S18W07 0410 FKC EKC beta-gamma-delta

location: S18W05

area: 0520

S9748 2024.05.27       S22W56            
S9750 2024.05.28   8 5 N23W42 0030   DRO  
13698 2024.05.28
2024.05.30
11 30 20 N22W18 0080 EAI EAI

area: 0260

S9755 2024.05.30       N21W54            
13699 2024.05.31
2024.05.31
6 7 5 N04W47 0070 CAO DAO  
13701 2024.05.31
2024.06.01
9 26 14 S04W00 0040 DAO DRI

location: S05E03

area: 0090

13703 2024.05.31
2024.06.03
7 21 15 S08E18 0040 DAO DAI location: S07E17

area: 0370

13700 2024.06.01
2024.06.01
7 9 6 S04W65 0100 DAO EAO

area: 0450

S9760 2024.06.01       N11E25            
13702 2024.06.01
2024.06.02
1 1 1 N17E57 0020 HSX HSX

area: 0160

S9762 2024.06.01       S14E33          
13705 2024.06.02
2024.06.03
2 5 2 N17W47 0010 BXO CRO location: N19W47
13704 2024.06.02
2024.06.03
3 5 3 S18E65 0020 CAO CAO area: 0040

location: S18E62

S9766 2024.06.02   4 1 S21W23 0010   AXX  
S9767 2024.06.02       S40E23          
S9768 2024.06.03   10 6 S12E42 0020   BXO    
S9769 2024.06.03   1   N09E73 0001   AXX    
Total spot count: 98 259 150  
Sunspot number: 208 409 290  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 153 316 207  (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): 229 225 232  

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)
2024.06 184.6 (1)   19.6 (2A) / 196.0 (2B) / 186.6 (2C) (125.9 projected, -0.8) (5.5)
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.