Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on September 8, 2025 at 11:25 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 (September 1, 2025)
Solar cycle Solar cycles 23-25 (September 1, 2025) Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2006 (April 5, 2007)
  Cycle 24-25 progress (September 1, 2025) 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 (September 1, 2025) 3rd SSN Workshop, Tucson, 2013
  Comparison of cycles 12-14, 16, 24-25 (September 1, 2025) 4th SSN Workshop, Locarno, 2014
  Solar polar fields vs. solar cycles (August 17, 2025) Cycle 25 initial spots (final update December 25, 2019)
  Solar cycles 24-25 transition using 365d smoothing  

Recent activity

The geomagnetic field was at inactive to quiet levels on September 7. The CME related effects came to an end late in the day and the disturbance related to CH1315 resumed. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 492 and 669 km/sec. The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to major storm 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 132.5 - decreasing 13.2 over the previous solar rotation. The 365 day average solar flux at 1 AU was 170.91 (183 days ago). The 81 day average solar flux at 1 AU was 148.9 (41 days ago, this is 50.5% of the total SC25 solar flux range from the max 81 day average peak on September 4, 2024 at 227.3 and an average 81 day flux of 69 at solar minimum). SC25 365d peak: 195.9 on October 13, 2024. The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 2 (STAR Ap - based on the average of three hour interval ap indices: 1.6). Three hour interval K indices: 00000012 (planetary), 11012212 (Boulder), 10001155 (Andenes).

The background x-ray flux is at the class B6 level (GOES 19).

At the time of counting spots (see image time), spots were observed in 12 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 223) and in 10 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 147) SDO/HMI images.

AR 14205 [N18W49] reemerged with tiny spots.
AR 14206 [N08W50] was quiet and stable.
AR 14207 [N28W34] decayed slowly. The magnetic delta configuration disappeared. Many C flares were recorded during the first half of the day, then activity decreased quickly. C1 flares: C1.2 @ 20:02, C1.2 @ 20:50 UT
AR 14210 [N07W14] decayed slowly and quietly.
AR 14211 [S14E04] was quiet and stable.
AR 14212 [N09W33] reemerged with tiny and small spots.
AR 14213 [S14E15] developed further and may be capable of producing a minor M class flare. C1 flares: C1.5 @ 16:53, C1.8 @ 17:04, C1.3 @ 19:41, C1.4 @ 19:52, C1.2 @ 21:26, C1.1 @ 22:29 UT

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S11404 [N12W29] decayed slowly and quietly.
S11408 [N22W02] was quiet and stable.
S11411 [N09E16] was quiet and stable.
New AR S11412 [N15E21] emerged with tiny spots.
New AR S11413 [S01E19] emerged with tiny spots.

A C1.3 flare at 14:24 UT had its origin near the southwest limb.
A C1.6 flare at 15:43 UT appeared to have its origin in AR 14202.

C2+ flares

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C2.8 00.34   14207 GOES18  
C9.5 00:47 N28W18 14207 GOES18  
C4.3 00:53   14207 GOES18  
C3.2 01:49   14202 GOES18  
C2.4 02:51   14202 GOES18  
C3.2 04:12   14202 GOES18 simultaneous flare in AR 14213
C3.0 05:00   14202 GOES18  
C6.3 05:20 N28W19 14207 GOES18  
C3.6 05:56   14202 GOES18  
C3.6 06:55   14202 GOES18  
C2.9 07:16   14207 GOES18  
C3.3 07:57 N28W20 14207 GOES18  
C2.7 08:12   14207 GOES18  
C2.7 09:40   14202 GOES18  
C3.6 10:12 N28W21 14207 GOES18  
C3.4 10:50   14202 GOES18  
C2.1 11:31   14207 GOES18  
C3.6 12:44 N27W22 14207 GOES18  
C2.4 16:01   14202 GOES18  
C4.0/1N 18:13 S15E17 14213 GOES18  
C3.5 18:23   14212 GOES18  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

September 5-7: No obviously Earth directed CMEs.

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 southern hemisphere coronal hole (CH1315) was in an Earth facing position on September 2-7.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at mostly quiet to active levels on September 8-9 due to effects from CH1315 and quiet on September 10-11.

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
STAR SWPC STAR Current Previous
2K 1K
14205 2025.08.28   2 1 N17W55 0005   AXX   was AR S11389

location: N18W49

14206 2025.08.28
2025.08.29
1 2 1 N09W50 0080 HSX HSX was AR S11390

location: N08W50

area: 0110

14207 2025.08.29
2025.08.30
8 38 15 N28W33 0200 DAI DAI beta-gamma

was AR S11394

location: N28W34

area: 0260

14211 2025.09.01
2025.09.02
1 4 1 S14E03 0160 HSX CSO was AR S11401

area: 0240

14210 2025.09.01
2025.09.02
3 9 2 N08W14 0050 CSO CAO was AR S11402

location: N07W14

area: 0070

S11404 2025.09.03   1   N12W29 0001   AXX  
S11405 2025.09.03       N28W47            
S11406 2025.09.03       S03W21          
14212 2025.09.04
2025.09.04
2 14 8 N09W34 0010 AXX DRI   beta-gamma

was AR S11407

location: N09W33

area: 0040

S11408 2025.09.05   6 3 N22W02 0015   BXO  
14213 2025.09.06
2025.09.06
8 20 13 S13E15 0220 DAO DSI beta-gamma

was AR S11410

area: 0470

S11411 2025.09.06   3 2 N09E16 0007   AXX  
S11412 2025.09.07   2 1 N15E21 0004   BXO    
S11413 2025.09.07   2   S01E19 0003   BXO    
Total spot count: 23 103 47  
Sunspot number: 83 223 147  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 48 131 75  (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): 91 123 118  

Monthly solar cycle data

Month Average solar flux International sunspot number
(WDC-SILSO)
Smoothed sunspot number (4) Average ap
(3)
Measured 1 AU
2024.03 154.4 152.9 103.7 141.4 (+4.5) 11.03
2024.04 161.3 162.6 137.0 144.5 (+3.1) 9.69
2024.05 187.7 191.9 172.1 149.1 (+4.6) 23.56
(SC25 peak)
2024.06 184.3 190.2 164.1 152.8 (+3.7) 10.24
2024.07 196.6 203.0 196.8 155.0 (+2.3) 7.13
2024.08  246.1
(cycle peak)
252.2 216.0  (SC25 peak) 156.8 (+1.8) 15.96
2024.09 195.7 197.8 141.1 159.4 (+1.6) 15.36
2024.10 221.0 219.6 165.8 160.9 (+1.5) (SC25 solar max) 18.99
2024.11 199.6 195.3 154.1 157.1 (-3.8) 9.33
2024.12 197.3 191.2 154.6 151.3 (-5.8) 8.42
2025.01 190.3 184.2 137.0 146.3 (-5.0) 13.17
2025.02  184.2 179.7 155.7 139.9 (-6.4) 14.42
2025.03 163.7 162.1 134.2 (135.6 projected, -4.3) 15.96
2025.04 162.5 163.6 140.6 (132.5 projected, -3.1) 17.62
2025.05  135.3 138.3 79.2 (127.6 projected, -4.9) 17.26
2025.06 131.3 135.4 116.3 (122.8 projected, -4.8) 21.43
2025.07 137.8 142.3 125.6 (118.9 projected, -3.9) 11.80
2025.08 154.9 158.7 133.6 (114.1 projected, -4.8) 9.8
2025.09 167.0 (1)   31.2 (2A) / 133.9 (2B) / 149.0 (2C) (109.7 projected, -4.4) (13.7)
2025.10       (105.8 projected, -3.9)  
2025.11       (103.6 projected, -2.2)  
2025.12       (101.9 projected, -1.7)  
2026.01       (97.8 projected, -4.1)  
2026.02       (93.7 projected, -4.1)  

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 27 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 23, 2025

Sunspot activity has been on a decreasing trend since September 2024 (using the average solar flux over 3 solar rotations as a proxy). Compared to the peak of SC25 solar flux has been at a low level in both May and June 2025. Taking a closer look at the 81 day (3 solar rotations) average solar flux proxy, its peak was in early September 2024 and had on May 12 decreased to less than half of the solar cycle flux range. Subtracting the 81 day average of approximately 69 at solar cycle minimum from all measurements, the SC25 range is 0 - 158.3.

All 365 day smoothed sunspot numbers peaked on October 11-12, 2024
, very likely making this the peak of SC25 (365 day smoothed peaks: STAR 1K: 236.1, STAR 2K: 364.3, NOAA SN: 156.0, ISN: 163.9). The 365d smoothed solar flux peaked on October 13, 2024, just 1.7% below the SC23 peak, and 62.6% above the SC24 peak.

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This report has been prepared by Jan Alvestad. It is based on the analysis of data from whichever 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.