Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Last update issued on June 27, 2003 at 03:50 UTC.

[Solar and geomagnetic data - last month (updated daily)]
[Solar wind and electron fluence charts (updated daily)]
[Solar cycles 21-23 (last update June 3, 2003)]
[Solar cycles 1-20]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 21, 22 and 23 (last update June 3, 2003)]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 2, 10, 13, 17, 20 and 23 (last update June 3, 2003)]
[Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2003 (last update April 13, 2003)]
[Archived reports (last update June 23, 2003)]

Recent activity

The geomagnetic field was unsettled to active on June 26. Solar wind speed ranged between 477 and 686 km/sec. A high speed stream, likely from coronal hole CH46, arrived at ACE just before noon with solar wind speed increasing to near 700 km/sec.

Solar flux measured at 20h UTC on 2.8 GHz was 118.9. The planetary A index was 19 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 20.9).
Three hour interval K indices: 43444333 (planetary), 33334333 (Boulder).

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

At midnight there were 9 spotted regions on the visible disk. Solar flare activity was low. A total of 3 C class events was recorded during the day.

Region 10387 decayed further losing penumbral area and several spots.
Region 10390 was quiet and stable.
Region 10391 decayed significantly with the trailing spots losing most of their penumbra.
Region 10392 was quiet and stable.
Region 10393 lost the trailing penumbra, new trailing spots emerged further north.
New region 10394 emerged to the south of region 10390.
New region 10395 rotated into view at the northeast limb early on June 25 and was numbered by SEC the next day.

Spotted regions not numbered by NOAA/SEC:
[S194] A new region emerged quickly in the southeast quadrant near the central meridian on June 26. Location at midnight: S04E01.
[S195] Old region 10375 rotated partly into view at the northeast limb late on June 26 displaying a large leading penumbra. The region has M class flare potential. Location at midnight: N09E85. Flares: Long duration events peaked at C1.4 at 11:30, at C1.7 at 13:16 and at C2.4 at 19:19 UTC.

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

June 24-26: No LASCO images available. There is a serious problem with the SOHO high gain antenna.

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 huge, recurrent coronal hole (CH46) mainly in the southern hemisphere and with a large leading trans equatorial extension will rotate into a geoeffective position from late on June 24 until June 30. The trans equatorial extension has become much larger over the last solar rotation.

Processed GOES SXI coronal structure image at 22:28 UTC on June 26. The darkest areas on the solar disk are likely coronal holes.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be unsettled to major storm until July 1, unsettled to active is likely on July 2-4.

Long distance medium wave (AM) band propagation along east-west paths over high and upper middle latitudes is poor to fair. 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. Several other stations were noted, including at least 2 from Brazil. Overall propagation conditions were unusual with 1510 WWZN Boston heard well at local sunrise along with a few other east coast US stations. At the same time a strong signal from Brazil was observed on 930 kHz.]

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
10386 2003.06.16 3   S06W62 0030 HRX now spotless
10387 2003.06.18 9 5 N19W42 0170 ESO area was 0120
at midnight
10389 2003.06.20     S12W64     plage
10390 2003.06.22 5 3 N14E23 0070 CSO classification was HAX
at midnight
10391 2003.06.23 16 20 N14W38 0190 DAO area was 0130
at midnight
10392 2003.06.24 1 2 N06E43 0010 HRX classification was HSX
at midnight, area 0020
10393 2003.06.24 5 4 S18E43 0050 CAO classification was CSO
at midnight
10394 2003.06.26 2 3 N08E22 0010 AXX classification was DSO
at midnight, area 0030
10395 2003.06.26 1 2 N10E62 0060 HSX formerly region S193
S192 emerged on
2003.06.23
    N05W31     plage
S194 emerged on
2003.06.26
  5 S04E01 0060 DAO  
S195 visible on
2003.06.26
  1 N09E85 0300 HKX  
Total spot count: 42 45
SSN: 122 135

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)
2002.05 178.4 120.8 108.8 (-1.7)
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 (81.4 predicted, -3.8)
2003.01 144.0 79.5 (78.3 predicted, -3.1)
2003.02 124.5 46.2 (73.3 predicted, -5.0)
2003.03 131.4 61.5 (67.6 predicted, -5.7)
2003.04 126.4 60.0 (62.7 predicted, -4.9)
2003.05 115.7 55.2 (57.8 predicted, -4.9)
2003.06 129.9 (1) 100.1 (2) (53.8 predicted, -4.0)

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]