The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels on October 23, weakly under the influence of a low speed stream associated with CH1248 most of the day. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 309 and 409 km/sec. The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to active levels. The above 10 MeV proton flux was at background levels.
Solar flux density measured at 20h UT on 2.8 GHz was 185.7 - increasing 4.6 over the previous solar rotation. (Centered 1 year average SF at 1 AU - 183 days ago: 180.77. In comparison SC24 peaked on June 28, 2014 at 145.50. Current SC25 peak: 180.77 on April 24, 2024). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 8 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 8.5). Three hour interval K indices: 23233122 (planetary), 22234322 (Boulder), 23221033 (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 18 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 294) and in 15 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 196) SDO/HMI images.
AR 13857 [S09W50] decayed slowly and quietly.
AR 13859 [S11W81] decayed further leaving only tiny spots.
AR 13860 [S06W71] decayed slowly and quietly.
AR 13862 [S18W04] was quiet and stable.
AR 13863 [S09E04] decayed slowly and produced the largest flare of
the day.
AR 13865 [S22E22] decayed slowly and quietly.
AR 13866 [S12E31] produced a few C flares and has weak polarity
intermixing.
AR 13868 [S11E48] was quiet and stable.
New AR 13869 [S17E67] rotated into view on October 22 and was
numbered the next day by SWPC. A major flare is possible.
Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted
differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S10252 [N09W37] was quiet and stable.
S10260 [S19W29] was quiet and stable.
S10261 [N18E21] was quiet and stable.
S10268 [S19W19] developed slowly and quietly.
S10269 [N30W01] was quiet and stable.
New region S10270 [N26E60] emerged with tiny
spots.
New region S10271 [S18E78] rotated into view trailing AR 13869.
New region S10272 [N18E41] emerged with a tiny spot.
New region S10273 [S15E84] rotated into view
with large spots. A major flare is possible.
Minor update posted at 04:05 UT: AR S10271 appears to have been the origin of a major X3.33 flare peaking at 03:57 UT, the location in SDO/AIA is S17E78. Protons may arrive later today (due to the unfavorable position near the east limb).
C2+ flares
| Magnitude | Peak time (UT) | Location | Source | Recorded by | Comment |
| C5.1 | 00:26 | behind southeast limb | S10273 | GOES16 | |
| C2.1 | 04:06 | 13869 | GOES16 | ||
| C2.5 | 05:12 | 13863 | GOES16 | ||
| C2.4 | 05:24 | 13869 | GOES16 | ||
| C2.8 | 09:21 | 13863 | GOES16 | ||
| C2.6 | 09:54 | S10273? | GOES16 | ||
| C3.5 | 10:22 | 13866 | GOES16 | ||
| C4.0 | 10:46 | 13869 | GOES16 | ||
| C2.7 | 10:58 | S10271 | GOES16 | ||
| C4.6 | 11:20 | 13866 | GOES16 | ||
| C7.8/1F | 12:12 | S10E16 | 13863 | GOES16 | CME |
| C4.2 | 13:38 | S10271? | GOES16 | ||
| C3.7 | 13:59 | S10271? | GOES16 | ||
| C4.1 | 14:53 | S10273 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.5 | 15:16 | S10271 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.2 | 15:59 | S10271 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.9 | 16:09 | S10271 | GOES16 | simultaneous flare in AR S10273 | |
| C2.9 | 16:32 | S10271 | GOES16 | ||
| C5.1 | 17:20 | S10273 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.0 | 20:30 | 13866 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.0 | 20:48 | S10273 | GOES16 | ||
| C5.4 | 21:10 | S16E67 | 13869 | GOES16 | |
| C2.4 | 21:54 | 13866 | GOES16 | ||
| C2.6 | 22:15 | S10271 | GOES16 | ||
| C3.2 | 22:21 | S10271 | GOES16 | ||
| C5.4 | 22:46 | S11E63 | 13869 | GOES16 | |
| C4.2 | 23:33 | S10271 | GOES16 |
October 21-22: No obviously Earth directed CMEs were observed.
October 23: A CME was observed after the C7 flare in AR 13863 peaking
at 12:12 UT. The CME could reach Earth on October 26.
October 24: A full halo CME was observed after the X3 flare. This CME
could reach Earth on October 26.
[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 negative polarity trans equatorial coronal hole (CH1249) rotated across the central meridian on October 22. A negative polarity southern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1250) will become Earth facing on October 24-25.
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.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet on October 24. October 25-26 could see unsettled and active intervals in response to the arrival of a high speed stream associated with CH1249. The October 23 CME could reach Earth on October 26 and cause unsettled to minor storm conditions.
| 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.
(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 | ||||||||||
| 13858 | 2024.10.13 2024.10.14 |
S15W63 |
 |
location: S16W50 |
|||||||
| 13857 | 2024.10.13 2024.10.14 |
5 | 2 | S05W58 | 0010 | BXO |
 |
 |
location: S09W50 |
||
| 13859 | 2024.10.15 2024.10.15 |
4 | 4 | 1 | S12W82 | 0040 | CAO | BXO |
 |
 |
area: 0010 location: S11W81 |
| S10242 | 2024.10.15 | S31W41 |
 |
||||||||
| 13860 | 2024.10.16 2024.10.17 |
1 | 1 | 1 | S06W70 | 0010 | AXX | HRX |
 |
 |
location: S06W71 |
| 13863 | 2024.10.17 2024.10.19 |
6 | 19 | 8 | S09E07 | 0100 | DAO | CSO |
 |
 |
area: 0250 location: S09E04 |
| S10252 | 2024.10.18 | 5 | 1 | N09W37 | 0015 | AXX |
 |
 |
|||
| 13862 | 2024.10.18 2024.10.19 |
7 | 3 | S15W03 | 0015 | BXO |
 |
 |
location: S18W04 | ||
| 13865 | 2024.10.19 2024.10.20 |
1 | 3 | 2 | S22E23 | 0010 | HSX | CAO |
 |
 |
location: S22E22 area: 0030 |
| 13864 | 2024.10.19 2024.10.20 |
N25E05 | location: N25E09 | ||||||||
| 13866 | 2024.10.20 2024.10.21 |
11 | 23 | 9 | S12E32 | 0020 | BXI | DRI |
 |
 |
area: 0050 location: S12E31 |
| S10260 | 2024.10.20 | 1 | S19W29 | 0002 | AXX |
 |
 |
||||
| S10261 | 2024.10.20 | 8 | 2 | N18E21 | 0020 | BXO |
 |
 |
|||
| 13867 | 2024.10.20 2024.10.21 |
S15E04 |
 |
location: S21E06 | |||||||
| 13868 | 2024.10.21 2024.10.21 |
2 | 2 | 2 | S11E47 | 0180 | HSX | HHX |
 |
 |
location: S11E48 area: 0350 |
| S10264 | 2024.10.21 | N25W34 | |||||||||
| S10265 | 2024.10.21 | S25E22 | |||||||||
| S10266 | 2024.10.21 | N09E22 | |||||||||
| 13869 | 2024.10.22 2024.10.23 |
9 | 15 | 7 | S17E71 | 0250 | EHI | FHO |
 |
 |
location: S17E67 area: 0780 |
| S10268 | 2024.10.22 | 8 | 3 | S19W19 | 0020 | HRX |
 |
 |
|||
| S10269 | 2024.10.22 | 3 | N30W01 | 0005 | AXX |
 |
 |
||||
| S10270 | 2024.10.23 | 2 | 1 | N26E60 | 0005 | AXX |
 |
||||
| S10271 | 2024.10.23 | 4 | 3 | S18E78 | 0260 | DAO |
 |
||||
| S10272 | 2024.10.23 | 1 | N18E21 | 0003 | AXX |
 |
|||||
| S10273 | 2024.10.23 | 3 | 1 | S15E84 | 0420 | DKO |
 |
||||
| Total spot count: | 34 | 114 | 46 | ||||||||
| Sunspot number: | 104 | 294 | 196 | (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions) | |||||||
| Weighted SN: | 64 | 168 | 100 | (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): | 114 | 162 | 157 | ||||||||
| 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 | 127.8 (+3.0) | 12.20 |
| 2023.12 | 151.1 | 146.4 | 114.2 | 129.4 (+1.6) | 9.60 |
| 2024.01 | 164.6 | 159.3 | 126.0 | 131.1 (+1.7) | 5.46 |
| 2024.02 | 172.5 | 168.3 | 123.0 | 136.8 (+5.7) | 5.31 |
| 2024.03 | 154.4 | 152.9 | 103.7 | 141.3 (+4.5) | 11.03 |
| 2024.04 | 161.3 | 162.6 | 136.5 | (145.3 projected, +4.0) | 9.69 |
| 2024.05 | 187.7 | 191.9 | 171.7 | (151.6 projected, +6.3) | 23.56 (SC25 peak) |
| 2024.06 | 184.3 | 190.2 | 164.2 | (155.5 projected, +3.9) | 10.24 |
| 2024.07 | 196.6 |
203.0 | 196.5 | (158.4 projected, +2.9) | 7.13 |
| 2024.08 | 246.1 (cycle peak) |
252.2 | 215.5 (SC25 peak) | (160.4 projected, +2.0) | 15.96 |
| 2024.09 | 195.7 | 197.8 | 141.4 | (163.1 projected, +2.7) | 15.36 |
| 2024.10 | 213.1 (1) | 108.9 (2A) / 146.7 (2B) / 201.1 (2C) ISN preliminary average: 153 |
(165.4 projected, +2.3) | (22.0) | |
| 2024.11 | (163.7 projected, -1.7) | ||||
| 2024.12 | (160.7 projected, -3.0) | ||||
| 2025.01 | (156.3 projected, -4.4) | ||||
| 2025.02 | (149.6 projected, -6.7) | ||||
| 2025.03 | (144.8 projected, -4.8) | ||||
| 2025.04 | (141.6 projected, -3.2) | ||||
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
September 2024 saw a significant decrease in sunspot numbers compared to the previous month, however, activity was still fairly high. The average solar flux for the month ranks as number 3 of all months during SC25. Taking into account that we started seeing high sunspot numbers April 14, 2024, the most likely candidate for solar maximum would be at or just after October 14, 2024. Assuming that the average sunspot number from now until April 14, 2025 becomes 150, we would be looking at a 365 days smoothed sunspot maximum of 164.5 centered on October 14. Should the average sunspot number for that period become 160 we would get a peak near 169.7.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
