Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on November 28, 2024 at 04:25 UT. Updated on January 14, 2025 based on available SDO/HMI images

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 at quiet levels on November 27. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 344 and 415 km/sec, averaging 372 km/sec (-21 compared to the previous day). The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to active levels. The above 10 MeV proton flux was at background levels all day.

Solar flux density measured at 20h UT on 2.8 GHz was 225.0 - decreasing 44.9 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 186.44. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50 while SC23 peaked on February 23, 2002 at 198.15. Current SC25 peak: 186.44 on May 29, 2024). 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: 11010112 (planetary), 10102222 (Boulder), 20000024 (Andenes).

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

At the time of counting spots, spots were observed in 20 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 426) and in 14 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 242) images.

AR 13900 [N25W43] decayed slowly and quietly.
AR 13901 [S07W59] decayed slowly and was mostly quiet.
AR 13902 [S15W16] was quiet and stable.
AR 13905 [S09W03] decayed slowly in the leading spot section.
AR 13906 [S15E11] decayed slowly. A major flare is possible.
AR 13907 [S21W36] developed significantly and was mostly quiet.
AR 13908 [N14E23] decayed slowly and quietly.
AR 13910 [N17E58] was mostly unchanged and produced a few flares.
AR 13911 [S15W51] matured and produced a few C flares.

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S10402 [N30W20] reemerged with tiny spots.
S10403 [S12W64] decayed slowly and quietly.
S10409 [N06W53] decayed slowly and quietly.
S10410 [N09W25] was quiet and stable.
New region S10411 [S17W29] emerged with several small and tiny spots.
New region S10412 [S06E78] rotated into view with a small spot.
New region S10413 [S15E18] was observed with tiny spots in an old plage area.
New region S10414 [N17E68] emerged with a tiny spot.
New region S10415 [S14E59] emerged with tiny spots.
New region S10416 [S07E33] emerged with tiny spots.
New region S10417 [S18W78] emerged with a tiny spot.

C2+ flares

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C2.6 00:51     GOES16  
C3.5 02:28   13901 GOES16  
C3.2 03:01   13906 GOES16  
C2.1 04:02     GOES16  
C2.1 05:40     GOES16  
C2.7 06:57     GOES16  
C2.8 07:24     GOES16  
C3.1 08:27   13910 GOES16  
C3.2 08:36   13910 GOES16  
C3.0 08:56   13911 GOES16  
C2.9 09:56     GOES16  
C9.5 10:20 S17W41 13911 GOES16  
C3.3 11:24     GOES16  
C7.8 11:45   13905 GOES16  
C7.6 12:05   13911 GOES16  
M1.0 12:46   13901 GOES16  
C2.9 14:12     GOES16  
C2.2 15:23     GOES16  
C3.0 16:02     GOES16  
C2.4 16:35     GOES16  
C2.2 17:15     GOES16  
C2.6 17:21     GOES16  
C6.0 18:11     GOES16  
C5.4 19:12     GOES16  
C3.3 19:42     GOES16  
C2.8 20:29     GOES16  
C3.4 22:00     GOES16  
C3.0 22:11     GOES16  
C2.0 23:01     GOES16  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

November 26-27: No obviously Earth directed CMEs were observed.
November 25: A large filament eruption in the southern hemisphere was observed after 02h UT. A partial halo CME was associated with this event, and there is a slight chance components of this CME could reach Earth on November 28. Another filament eruption occurred in the southwest quadrant after an M1 flare in AR 13901 late in the day. There was considerable coronal dimming. The CME will likely reach Earth late on November 28 and cause unsettled to major geomagnetic storm levels.

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 recurrent positive polarity northern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1258) rotatet across the central meridian on November 27.

Propagation

Long distance low and medium frequency (below 2 MHz) propagation along paths north of due west over upper middle and high latitudes is fair. Propagation on long distance northeast-southwest paths is poor.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet most of November 28 and unsettled to major storm on November 29 due to CME effects. Quiet to unsettled is expected for November 30.

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
13900 2024.11.16
2024.11.18
  4 1 N22W64     BXO  

location: N25W43

SWPC split off the trailing spot section into AR 13909 on 2024.11.24

13901 2024.11.17
2024.11.18
1 5 3 S09W58 0040 HAX CAO   location: S07W59

area: 0150

13899 2024.11.17
2024.11.17
      S10W83          

location: S11W79

S10379 2024.11.18       S17W53            
13911 2024.11.19
2024.11.26
8 7 3 S14W47 0030 CRO CSO   location: S15W51
13902 2024.11.20
2024.11.20
1 5 2 S16W16 0040 HSX CSO   location: S15W16

area: 0110

S10390 2024.11.20       N27W23            
13905 2024.11.21
2024.11.21
15 41 24 S09W03 0320 EKO EKO   area: 0650
13906 2024.11.22
2024.11.22
26 62 30 S16E07 0400 EKI EKC   location: S16E11

area: 0700

S10396 2024.11.22       N02W48            
S10397 2024.11.22       N17E05          
13907 2024.11.23
2024.11.23
6 18 10 S22W35 0040 DAO DRI   location: S21W36
13908 2024.11.23
2024.11.23
3 20 6 N13E26 0010 BXO CRO   location: N14E23

area: 0040

S10399 2024.11.23       N13W36            
S10401 2024.11.23       N01W37            
13909 2024.11.24       N25W46           see AR 13900
S10402 2024.11.24   6   N30W20 0010   AXX      
S10403 2024.11.24   3   S12W64 0005   BXO      
13910 2024.11.25
2024.11.26
1 20 12 N17E55 0250 DKO DKI   location: N17E58

area: 0500

S10405 2024.11.25       N21E56         merged with AR 13910
S10406 2024.11.25       S13E21            
S10407 2024.11.25       S20W07            
S10409 2024.11.26   3 3 N06W53 0010   BXO    
S10410 2024.11.26   3   N12W29 0005   BXO    
S10411 2024.11.27   13 4 S17W29 0030   BXO      
S10412 2024.11.27   2 2 S06E78 0170   HSX      
S10413 2024.11.27   7   S15E18 0015   AXX      
S10414 2024.11.27   1   N17E68 0001   AXX      
S10415 2024.11.27   2 1 S14E59 0004   AXX      
S10416 2024.11.27   3   S07E33 0005   BXO      
S10417 2024.11.27   1 1 S18W78 0003   AXX      
Total spot count: 61 226 102  
Sunspot number: 141 426 242  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 109 282 158  (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): 154 234 193  

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
2023.03 157.2 155.6 123.3 121.1 (+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) 18.99
2024.11 196.7 (1)   130.5 (2A) / 144.9 (2B) / 187.9 (2C)
ISN current month average: 154
(161.8 projected, -1.7) (9.7)
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 2024. 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.