Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on June 20, 2024 at 03:45 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 (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 to unsettled levels on June 19 under the influence of weak effects from CH1226. 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 196.0 - increasing 19.8 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 162.37. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50. Current SC25 peak: 162.37 on December 20, 2023). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 9 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 9.1). Three hour interval K indices: 33213321 (planetary), 3322**** (Boulder), 44224452 (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 9 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 292) and in 8 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 178) SDO/HMI images.

Region 13712 [S26W37] consolidated and lost the magnetic delta configuration. A major flare is still possible.
Region 13713 [S14W24] developed quickly and gained a magnetic delta configuration in the leading spot section. A major flare is possible.
Region 13716 [N09W31] developed in the central spot section and has a magnetic delta configuration there. M class flaring is possible.
New region 13718 [N13E15] emerged on June 18 and was numbered by SWPC the next day. Further C class flaring is possible.
New region 13719 [S13E69] emerged with several spots.
New region 13720 [S05E77] rotated into view with several mature spots.

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S9806 [S07W07] was quiet and stable
S9808 [S08W30] gained spots and was quiet.
New region S9815 [N16E75] rotated into view with tiny spots.

C2+ flares

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C3.0 00:05   13711 GOES16  
C4.8 01:54   13713 GOES16  
C4.6 01:59   13712 GOES16  
C3.4 02:24   13711 GOES16  
C3.9 03:23   13713 GOES16 simultaneous flare in AR S9809
C2.7 04:06   13712 GOES16  
C3.3 06:03   13713 GOES16  
M1.1 06:38   13711 GOES16  
C5.3 07:22   13713 GOES16  
C3.0 08:01   13712 GOES16  
C5.9 09:19   13718 GOES16  
C2.9 10:41   13716 GOES16  
C3.3 11:29   13712 GOES16  
C2.5 12:43   13713 GOES16  
C4.6 13:04   13713 GOES16  
C3.0 14:38   13716 GOES16  
C3.4 15:46   S9809 GOES16  
C3.2 16:55   13716 GOES16  
C3.1 17:51   13712 GOES16  
C2.9 20:13 behind northeast limb   GOES16  
C3.4 21:52   13712 GOES16  
C5.7 22:05   13712 GOES16  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

June 17-19: 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 negative polarity northern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1228) rotated across the central meridian on June 18.

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 on June 20. June 21-22 could see weak effects from CH1228 and quiet to active levels.

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
13711 2024.06.07
2024.06.09
1     S11W81 0010 AXX    

location: S12W85

rotated out of view

13714 2024.06.08
2024.06.12
      N14W74         location: N15W69
13715 2024.06.11
2024.06.12
      N17W49           location: N18W53
13712 2024.06.11
2024.06.12
21 41 20 S24W39 1160 EKC FKC

area: 1550

location: S26W37

13713 2024.06.11
2024.06.12
49 65 34 S15W27 0460 EKC EKC beta-gamma-delta

location: S14W24

area: 1370

S9796 2024.06.11       N27W56            
13716 2024.06.12 25 45 24 N10W32 0370 DKI EKC beta-gamma-delta

area: 0710

location: N09W31

S9800 2024.06.13       N29W51            
S9802 2024.06.15       S32W00            
S9803 2024.06.16       S05W50          
S9804 2024.06.16       N17W17            
S9805 2024.06.16       S11E28            
S9806 2024.06.17   4   S07W07 0007   AXX  
S9807 2024.06.17       S12W42            
S9808 2024.06.18   18 4 S08W30 0040   BXI  
S9809 2024.06.18       N28W52          
13718 2024.06.18
2024.06.19
3 9 4 N15E13 0020 CRO DAO location: N13E15

area: 0050

S9811 2024.06.18       N43W49          
S9812 2024.06.18       N27E23          
13719 2024.06.19
2024.06.19
7 11 7 S12E68 0020 CRO DRI   was AR S9813

area: 0060

location: S13E69

13720 2024.06.19
2024.06.19
5 7 4 S04E77 0030 DAO DAO   was AR S9814

area: 0170

location: S05E77

S9815 2024.06.19   2 1 N16E75 0005   AXX    
Total spot count: 111 202 98  
Sunspot number: 181 292 178  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 152 245 131  (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): 199 161 142  

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)
2024.06 181.1 (1)   99.9 (2A) / 157.7 (2B) / 155.3 (2C) (125.9 projected, -0.8) (9.1)
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.