Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on June 12, 2024 at 07:05 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 (June 9, 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 11. The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to major storm levels. The above 10 MeV proton flux was at 0.5 pfu at the end of the day. An increase to 9.6 pfu at 05:20 UT on June 12 was observed following a large flare behind the west limb, likely from AR 13697 near 22:50 UT.

Solar flux density measured at 20h UT on 2.8 GHz was 164.9 - decreasing 51.1 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 161.97. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50. Current SC25 peak: 161.97 on December 12, 2023). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 11 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 10.9). Three hour interval K indices: 44221112 (planetary), 53222212 (Boulder), 56322323 (Andenes).

The background x-ray flux is at the class C1 level (GOES 16).

At the time of counting spots (see image time), spots were observed in 17 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 298) and in 12 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 164) SDO/HMI images.

Region 13702 [N17W48] was mostly quiet and stable.
Region 13707 [S14W06] decayed slowly and was mostly quiet.
Region 13708 [S22E08] was quiet and stable.
Region 13709 [S09E14] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13710 [S16W80] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 13711 [S09E27] decayed slowly and was mostly quiet.

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S9778 [N17W25] developed slowly and quietly as new flux emerged.
S9781 [S22W02] was quiet and stable.
S9785 [N14E39] was quiet and stable.
S9786 [S23W25] reemerged with tiny spots.
New region S9792 [N16E60] emerged with tiny spots.
New region S9793 [S23E67] emerged quickly with several spots after noon. C flares are likely.
New region S9794 [S15E79] rotated into view with a mature spot.
New region S9795 [S12E84] rotated into view with a couple of spots. It is not yet certain that ARs S9794 and S9795 are separate regions, and this split will be reevaluated tomorrow.
New region S9796 [N27E35] was observed with tiny spots in an old plage area.
New region S9797 [S04W18] was observed with a tiny spot in an old plage area.
New region S9798 [S20E33] was observed with tiny spots in an old plage area.

C2+ flares

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C4.2 01:25 behind southwest limb 13697 GOES16  
C5.5 01:55 behind southwest limb 13697 GOES16  
C9.0 03:29 behind southwest limb 13697 GOES16  
C9.2 04:43 behind southwest limb 13697 GOES16  
C4.1 05:53 behind southwest limb 13697 GOES16  
C3.0 07:23 behind southwest limb 13697 GOES16  
C2.6 09:32 behind southeast limb S9795 GOES16  
C2.7 10:16 behind southwest limb 13697 GOES16  
C2.7 14:16 behind southwest limb 13697 GOES16  
C3.5 14:40 behind southwest limb 13697 GOES16  
C2.7 22:01   13711 GOES16  
C2.6 22:34   S9793 GOES16  
C2.3 23:17   13707 GOES16  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

June 9-11: No obviously Earth directed CME 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 southern hemisphere negative polarity coronal hole (CH1225) would have been Earth facing on June 10. CH1225 seems to have closed before rotating across the central meridian. A positive polarity trans equatorial coronal hole (CH1226) will likely become Earth facing on June 13-14.

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.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled on June 12-14.

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
13703 2024.05.31
2024.06.03
2     S07W89 0030 HAX    

rotated out of view

13702 2024.06.01
2024.06.02
1 10 4 N16W49 0030 HSX CSO

area: 0130

S9762 2024.06.01       S14W58            
13704 2024.06.02
2024.06.03
      S18W46          
13706 2024.06.03
2024.06.04
      S12W68           location: S12W73
S9769 2024.06.03       N09W37            
S9771 2024.06.04       N36W48            
S9772 2024.06.04       S05W51            
S9774 2024.06.05       S27W26            
13707 2024.06.05
2024.06.06
4 15 5 S15W07 0010 CSO CAO

location: S14W06

area: 0050

13708 2024.06.05
2024.06.06
1 8 4 S22E07 0020 HAX CAO area: 0100

location: S22E08

13710 2024.06.06
2024.06.09
  1 1 S16W78 0003   AXX location: S16W80
S9778 2024.06.06   5 4 N17W25 0010   CRO  
13709 2024.06.06
2024.06.07
10 28 11 S09E13 0100 DAO CAI area: 0330

location: S09E14

S9781 2024.06.07   11   S22W02 0015   BXO  
S9782 2024.06.07       S09E06            
13711 2024.06.07
2024.06.09
3 16 7 S08E25 0020 DRO DRO location: S09E27

area: 0040

S9784 2024.06.08       S09W53            
S9785 2024.06.08   5   N14E39 0005   AXX  
S9786 2024.06.08   2   S23W24 0002   BXO    
S9787 2024.06.09       S23W48            
S9789 2024.06.09       N13W00          
S9791 2024.06.10       S24E20          
S9792 2024.06.11   4 2 N16E60 0010   BXO    
S9793 2024.06.11   9 3 S23E67 0050   DRI    
S9794 2024.06.11   1 1 S15E79 0070   HSX    
S9795 2024.06.11   2 1 S12E84 0210   DSO    
S9796 2024.06.11   5   N27E35 0007   BXO    
S9797 2024.06.11   1   S04W18 0003   AXX    
S9798 2024.06.11   5 1 S20E33 0010   AXX    
Total spot count: 21 128 44  
Sunspot number: 81 298 164  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 49 167 83  (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): 89 164 131  

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
2024.05 187.7
(cycle peak)
191.9 171.7 (SC25 peak) (126.7 projected, +1.1) 23.56
(current
SC25 peak)
2024.06 184.6 (1)   60.7 (2A) / 165.6 (2B) / 172.9 (2C) (125.9 projected, -0.8) (9.2)
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 June 6, 2024

May 2024 easily became the month with the highest sunspot counts during solar cycle 25, and early June has seen no change in that pattern of many spot groups, some of which are large and complex. The next candidate for solar max is still uncertain, however, May 20-21, 2024 has all of the smoothed 365d sunspot numbers as well as the 365d smoothed solar flux signalling a peak on those days.

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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.