Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on November 9, 2024 at 05:05 UT. The next update will be after 16h UT on November 10.

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 (November 6, 2024)
Solar cycle Solar cycles 23-25 (November 1, 2024) Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2006 (April 5, 2007)
  Cycle 24-25 progress (November 1, 2024) Noon SDO sunspot count 1K image / 4K (*)
  Solar cycles 1-24 (August 1, 2020) POES auroral activity level [October 2009 - December 2012]
  Comparison of cycles 21-25 (November 1, 2024) 3rd SSN Workshop, Tucson, 2013
  Comparison of cycles 12-14, 16, 24-25 (November 1, 2024) 4th SSN Workshop, Locarno, 2014
  Solar polar fields vs. solar cycles (October 13, 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 quiet to active on November 8. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 368 and 432 km/sec, averaging 390 km/sec (-27 compared to the previous day). The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to major storm levels. The above 10 MeV proton flux was at background levels at the end of the day. The total field of the interplanetary magnetic field increased after 09:40 at ACE. The Bz component of the IMF swung southwards after 17h and a geomagnetic disturbance began afterwards. The source of this disturbance is uncertain.

Solar flux density measured at 20h UT on 2.8 GHz was 231.0 - increasing 17.4 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 185.16. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50. Current SC25 peak: 185.16 on May 10, 2024). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 10 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 10.1). Three hour interval K indices: 31122243 (planetary), 21222333 (Boulder), 43011364 (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 14 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 390) and in 13 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 278) SDO/HMI images.

AR 13878 [N16W77] decayed with the main penumbra fragmenting into smaller penumbrae.
AR 13879 [N15W55] was quiet and stable.
AR 13880 [S14W49] was quiet and stable.
AR 13881 [S09W70] decayed slowly and was mostly quiet.
AR 13883 [S06W21] decayed slowly losing spots and area. A small magnetic delta is still present and M class flaring is possible.
AR 13884 [S07W01] was quiet and stable.
AR 13886 [S05E11] produced several C flares. The region has many small and tiny spots.
AR 13889 [S10E54] produced C flares. M class flaring is likely.

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S10314 [S11E02] decayed slowly and quietly.
S10323 [S07W33] developed slightly in the trailing spot section.
S10324 [S12E12] was mostly quiet and stable.
S10330 [S15E41] was quiet and stable.
S10338 [N22E07] was quiet and stable.
New region S10339 [S11E63] was numbered as a separate region just east of AR 13889.

C2+ flares

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C5.4 00:32 S06W09 13883 GOES16  
C6.1 01:06 S06W09 13883 GOES16  
C4.0 02:00   13886 GOES16  
C6.2 02:34 S06W09 13883 GOES16  
M1.5/1N 03:01 S07W05 13883 GOES16  
M1.3 03:07   13883 GOES16  
C5.8 03:34 S08E23 13886 GOES16  
C3.1 04:48 S08E23 13886 GOES16  
C3.1 05:17   13883 GOES16  
C3.0 05:30   13886 GOES16  
C3.5 05:44   13883 GOES16  
C3.8 06:31 S07W08 13883 GOES16  
C5.2 07:46 S06W11 13883 GOES16  
C3.4 08:41   13883 GOES16  
C3.1 08:50   13878 GOES16  
C5.7 10:42 N14W84 13887 GOES16 simultaneous flare in AR S10314
C4.2 11:18   13889 GOES16  
C5.9 11:24   13883 GOES16  
C4.0 12:43   13889 GOES16  
C5.3 12:58 S10E24 S10324 GOES16  
C3.0 14:02   13883 GOES16  
C3.6 15:45   13883 GOES16  
C2.7 17:20   13889 GOES16  
C2.6 17:49   13886 GOES16  
C2.5 18:19   13886 GOES16  
C4.7 19:18   13883 GOES16  
C5.4 19:26   13883 GOES16  
C2.6 20:36   13886 GOES16  
C2.6 20:57   13886 GOES16  
C2.6 22:24   13881 GOES16  
C6.7 23:47   13889 GOES16  
C7.4 00:08   13889 GOES16  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

November 6-8: No obviously Earth directed CMEs were 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 trans equatorial negative polarity coronal hole (CH1253) rotated acrosss the central meridian on November 4-5. A recurrent northern hemisphere positive polarity coronal hole (CH1254) will become Earth facing on November 8-12. CH1254 has expanded a lot since the previous previous rotation and become a large coronal hole.

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 to active on November 9 with a chance of minor storm intervals due to effects from CH1253. Quiet to unsettled conditions are likely on November 10. November 11-15 could see quiet to minor storm levels as a high speed stream associated with CH1254 becomes the dominant solar wind source.

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
13878 2024.10.26
2024.10.27
2 4 3 N16W80 0100 HAX HAX

location: N16W78

13879 2024.10.28
2024.10.29
2 6 4 N15W58 0450 HHX CKO

area: 0920

location: N15W55

13880 2024.10.29
2024.10.31
  2   S14W54 0002   AXX

location: S14W49

S10300 2024.10.30       S03W35          
13881 2024.10.30
2024.11.01
7 8 6 S09W71 0120 DSO DAO

beta-gamma

location: S09W70

13883 2024.11.01
2024.11.02
35 54 32 S06W21 0420 FKC FKI beta-gamma-delta

area: 0620

S10309 2024.11.01       S24W58            
13884 2024.11.02
2024.11.02
1 12 7 S07W03 0020 HSX CAO

area: 0050

location: S07W01

S10314 2024.11.02   14 3 S11E02 0020   BXO  
S10316 2024.11.02       N18W39            
13886 2024.11.03
2024.11.03
32 68 45 S08E09 0170 EAI EAI

location: S05E11

area: 0330

SWPC includes AR S10324 in this spot group

S10319 2024.11.03       N18W20          
S10320 2024.11.03       N16W02            
S10322 2024.11.04       N03W43            
S10323 2024.11.04   9 5 S07W33 0029   CRO  
S10324 2024.11.04   30 18 S12E12 0100   DRI  
S10325 2024.11.04       S14W26            
13888 2024.11.05
2024.11.06
      N04W80            
S10329 2024.11.05       N15W41            
S10330 2024.11.05   3 1 S15E41 0015   HRX  
S10331 2024.11.05       S08E08         merged with AR 13886 on 2024.11.08
13889 2024.11.06
2024.11.07
18 36 21 S10E52 0400 EKO EKC beta-gamma-delta

location: S10E54

area: 0700

S10334 2024.11.06       N12W18            
S10336 2024.11.06       S14W13          
S10337 2024.11.07       S11E20          
S10338 2024.11.07   2 1 N22E07 0005   AXX  
S10339 2024.11.08   2 2 S11E63 0020   HRX    
Total spot count: 97 250 148  
Sunspot number: 167 390 278  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 147 312 210  (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): 183 215 222  

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
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
2023.11 153.5 150.2 105.4 127.9 (+3.1) 12.20
2023.12 151.1 146.4 114.2 129.5 (+1.6) 9.60
2024.01 164.6 159.3 126.0 131.1 (+1.6) 5.46
2024.02 172.5 168.3 123.0 136.9 (+5.8) 5.31
2024.03 154.4 152.9 103.7 141.4 (+4.5) 11.03
2024.04 161.3 162.6 137.0 144.4 (+3.1) 9.69
2024.05 187.7 191.9 172.1 (149.7 projected, +5.3) 23.56
(SC25 peak)
2024.06 184.3 190.2 164.1 (153.6 projected, +3.9) 10.24
2024.07 196.6 203.0 196.5  (156.5 projected, +2.9) 7.13
2024.08  246.1
(cycle peak)
252.2 215.5  (SC25 peak) (158.5 projected, +2.0) 15.96
2024.09 195.7 197.8 141.4 (161.2 projected, +2.7) 15.36
2024.10 221.0 219.6 166.3 (163.5 projected, +2.3) 19.0
2024.11 245.8 (1)   49.9 (2A) / 187.0 (2B) / 212.4 (2C) (161.8 projected, -1.7) (9.9)
2024.12       (158.7 projected, -3.1)  
2025.01       (154.4 projected, -4.3)  
2025.02       (147.6 projected, -6.8)  
2025.03       (142.8 projected, -4.8)  
2025.04       (139.8 projected, -3.0)  

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 October 27, 2024

Sunspot activity in October 2024 increased over September and looks to be headed for an SSN near 160. The average solar flux for October will become the second highest for a month during SC25. The above plot now displays the peak in 365d smoothed sunspot numbers in mid October. ISN has a peak on October 15, NOAA SN on October 14 while both the 1K and 2K SDO SN peaked on October 16. Assuming that the average sunspot number from October 2024 until April 14, 2025 becomes 150, we would be looking at a 365 days smoothed sunspot maximum of 164.5 centered on October 15. Should the average sunspot number for that period become 160 we would get a peak near 169.7.

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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.