Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Last update issued on July 28, 2003 at 04:50 UTC.

[Solar and geomagnetic data - last month (updated daily)]
[Solar wind and electron fluence charts (updated daily)]
[Solar cycles 21-23 (last update July 2, 2003)]
[Solar cycles 1-20]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 21, 22 and 23 (last update July 2, 2003)]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 2, 10, 13, 17, 20 and 23 (last update July 2, 2003)]
[Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2003 (last update July 23, 2003)]
[Archived reports (last update July 21, 2003)]

Recent activity

The geomagnetic field was quiet to minor storm on July 27. Solar wind speed ranged between 591 and 851 km/sec under the influence of an unusually complex high speed stream from coronal hole CH49.

Solar flux measured at 20h UTC on 2.8 GHz was 101.7 The planetary A index was 24 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 24.8).
Three hour interval K indices: 55433332 (planetary), 54543332 (Boulder).

The background x-ray flux is at the class B3 level.

At midnight there were 7 spotted regions on the visible disk. Solar flare activity was very low.

Region 10414 was quiet and stable.
Region 10419 decayed slowly and quietly and could become spotless today.
Region 10420 was quiet and stable.
New region 10421 rotated into view at the southeast limb. The region could produce C class flares.
New region 10422 emerged very quickly in the northwest quadrant and already has a magnetic delta structure in the leading penumbra. Minor M class flares are possible, with larger flares becoming possible if the current rate of development persists.

Spotted regions not numbered by NOAA/SEC:
[S215] A new region emerged in the northwest quadrant inside coronal hole CH49 on July 27. Location at midnight: N04W13.
[S216] A new region emerged in the northeast quadrant on July 27. Location at midnight: N17E13.

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

July 25-27: No potentially geoeffective CMEs observed.

Coronal holes

Coronal hole history (since late October 2002)
Compare today's report with the situation one solar rotation ago: 28 days ago 27 days ago 26 days ago

A large coronal hole (CH49) in the southern hemisphere - an extension of the southern polar coronal hole - will be in a geoeffective position on July 24-30.

Processed GOES SXI coronal structure image at 23:53 UTC on July 27. Base SXI image courtesy of NOAA/SEC. The darkest areas on the solar disk are likely coronal holes.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to minor storm until August 2 due to a high speed stream from coronal hole CH49.

Long distance medium wave (AM) band propagation along east-west paths over high and upper middle latitudes is very poor. Propagation along north-south paths is fair. [Trans Atlantic propagation conditions are currently monitored every night on 1470 kHz. Dominant station tonight: Radio Cristal del Uruguay, some stations from Brazil were noted as well.]

Coronal holes (1) Coronal mass ejections (2) M and X class flares (3)
Coronal hole indicator CME indicator M and X class flare indicator

1) Effects from a coronal hole could reach Earth within the next 5 days.
2) Material from a CME is likely to impact Earth within 96 hours.
3) There is a possibility of either M or X class flares within the next 48 hours.

Green: 0-20% probability, Yellow: 20-60% probability, Red: 60-100% probability.

Active solar regions (Recent map)

Compare to the previous day's image.

Data for all numbered solar regions according to the Solar Region Summary provided by NOAA/SEC. 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 SEC or where SEC has observed no spots.

Solar region Date numbered SEC
spot
count
STAR
spot
count
Location at midnight Area Classification Comment
10414 2003.07.17 1 1 S04W62 0110 HSX area was 0070
at midnight
10415 2003.07.19     N13W76     plage
10419 2003.07.23 2 3 N11E09 0010 BXO  
10420 2003.07.24 1 1 N11E38 0070 HSX  
10421 2003.07.27 1 6 S08E77 0030 HAX classification was DAO
at midnight, area 0120
10422 2003.07.28   9 N14W27 0090 DAO beta-gamma-delta
S215 emerged on
2003.07.27
  2 N04W13 0020 CSO  
S216 emerged on
2003.07.27
  2 N17E13 0010 BXO  
Total spot count: 5 24
SSN: 45 94

Monthly solar cycle data

Month Average solar
flux at Earth
International sunspot number Smoothed sunspot number
2000.04 184.2 125.5 120.8
cycle 23 sunspot max.
2000.07 202.3 170.1 119.8
2001.12 235.1 132.2 114.6 (-0.9)
2002.06 148.7 88.3 106.2 (-2.6)
2002.07 173.5 99.6 102.7 (-3.5)
2002.08 183.6 116.4 98.7 (-4.0)
2002.09 175.8 109.6 94.6 (-4.1)
2002.10 167.0 97.5 90.5 (-4.1)
2002.11 168.7 95.5 85.2 (-5.3)
2002.12 157.2 80.8 82.0 (-3.2)
2003.01 144.0 79.7 (79.7 predicted, -2.3)
2003.02 124.5 46.0 (74.7 predicted, -5.0)
2003.03 131.4 61.1 (69.0 predicted, -5.7)
2003.04 126.4 60.0 (64.1 predicted, -4.9)
2003.05 115.7 55.2 (59.2 predicted, -4.9)
2003.06 129.3 77.4 (55.2 predicted, -4.0)
2003.07 131.6 (1) 124.4 (2) (51.6 predicted, -3.6)

1) Running average based on the daily 20:00 UTC observed solar flux value at 2800 MHz.
2) Unofficial, accumulated value based on the Boulder (NOAA/SEC) sunspot number. The official international sunspot number is typically 30-50% less.

This report has been prepared by Jan Alvestad. It is based partly on my own observations and interpretations, and partly on data from sources noted in solar links. All time references are to the UTC day. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.


[DX-Listeners' Club]