Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Last update issued on March 29, 2003 at 04:40 UTC.

[Solar and geomagnetic data - last 4 weeks (updated daily)]
[Solar wind and electron fluence charts (updated daily)]
[Solar cycles 21-23 (last update March 3, 2003)]
[Solar cycles 1-20]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 21, 22 and 23 (last update March 3, 2003)]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 10, 13, 17, 20 and 23 (last update March 3, 2003)]
[Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2002 (last update January 27, 2003)]
[Archived reports (last update March 24, 2003)]

Recent activity

The geomagnetic field was quiet to minor storm on March 28. Solar wind speed ranged between 456 and 538 km/sec under the influence of a high speed stream. At about 15:25 UTC another disturbance was observed beginning at ACE. Since then the interplanetary magnetic field has been weakly to moderately southwards and this caused an increase in disturbance levels towards the end of the day and early on March 29.

Solar flux measured at 20h UTC on 2.8 GHz was 146.9. The planetary A index was 24 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 25.1).
Three hour interval K indices: 5452 3445 (planetary) (it should be noted that SEC/NOAA reports Kp as 4 for the 00-03 UTC interval, however, this value is based only on the 00-02 UTC interval as they, for reasons unknown, lost the data for the last hour of the interval. Based on data from relevant magnetometers, the Ap for the 00-03h UTC interval has been estimated at 45), 54422424 (Boulder).

The background x-ray flux is at the class B5 level.

At midnight there were 8 spotted regions on the visible disk. Solar flare activity was very low.

Region 10318 lost its trailing spots. A positive polarity field emerged within the leading negative polarity field causing quick development in this part of the region. The region currently has a magnetic delta structure in the northernmost penumbra. A minor M class flare is becoming a possibility.
Region 10319 decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 10320 developed fairly quickly late in the day as new flux emerged in both polarities. Some polarity intermixing is evident and the region could become interesting if the current development persists.
Region 10321 decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 10323 developed quickly with many new spots emerging in both polarities. While the region at this time is simply structured, further development could change this.
Region 10324 was quiet and stable.
Region 10325 developed a few small spots and was quiet.
New region 10326 rotated into view at the southeast limb.

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

March 26-28: No obviously 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 coronal hole (CH27) in the southern hemisphere was in a geoeffective position on March 25-27, this coronal hole is best defined in the section due west of region 10318. A small coronal hole (CH28) in the northern hemisphere was in a geoeffective position on March 28. A coronal hole (CH29) in the southern hemisphere will be in a possibly geoeffective position on March 29-30.

Processed SOHO EIT 284 image at 01:06 UTC on March 29. Any black areas on the solar disk are likely coronal holes.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to minor storm on March 29 and quiet to active March 30-April 2 due to high speed streams from coronal holes CH27, CH28 and CH29. 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 (Venezuela), then Radio Rafaela (Argentina). A good opening towards Colombia and Venezuela was noted above 1350 kHz 04-06 UTC on March 28.]

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 SEC/NOAA. 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
10316 2003.03.18     S11W67     plage
10318 2003.03.22 11 14 S15W06 0030 DSO beta-gamma-delta
classification was DAO
at midnight, area 0070
10319 2003.03.23 32 21 N12W18 0440 EKI classification was EKO
at midnight, area 0300
10320 2003.03.24 11 14 N06W48 0030 CSO beta-gamma
classification was DAO
at midnight, area 0060
10321 2003.03.24 38 30 N04E21 0370 EAC beta-gamma
area was 0220
at midnight
10323 2003.03.25 12 24 S09E11 0030 DSO classification was DAI
at midnight, area 0090
10324 2003.03.27 3 3 S14E53 0060 DAO classification was HSX
at midnight, area 0040
only negative polarity
spots
10325 2003.03.27 1 3 N12E65 0260 HHX classification was CHO
at midnight
10326 2003.03.28 1 1 S12E74 0060 HSX classification was HAX
at midnight
S126 emerged on
2003.03.24
    S08W60     now spotless
S127 emerged on
2003.03.24
    S17W63     plage
Total spot count: 109 110
SSN: 189 190

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)
2002.02 205.0 107.4 114.6 (+1.2)
2002.03 179.5 98.4 113.3 (-1.3)
2002.04 189.8 120.7 110.5 (-2.9)
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 (94.7 predicted, -4.0)
2002.10 167.0 97.5 (91.2 predicted, -3.5)
2002.11 168.7 95.0 (86.0 predicted, -5.2)
2002.12 157.2 81.6 (81.6 predicted, -4.4)
2003.01 144.0 79.5 (78.6 predicted, -3.0)
2003.02 124.5 46.2 (73.6 predicted, -5.0)
2003.03 129.1 (1) 103.3 (2) (67.9 predicted, -5.7)

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 (SEC/NOAA) sunspot number. The official international sunspot number is typically 25-45% 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]