Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Last major update issued on May 23, 2006 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 April 1, 2006)]
[Solar cycles 1-20]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 21, 22 and 23 (last update April 1, 2006)]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 2, 10, 13, 17, 20 and 23 (last update April 1, 2006)]
[Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2005 (last update March 3, 2006)]
[Archived reports (last update May 3, 2006)]

Recent activity

The geomagnetic field was quiet to active on May 22. Solar wind speed ranged between 384 and 502 (all day average 440) km/sec under the influence of a high speed stream.

Solar flux measured at 20h UTC on 2.8 GHz was 83.1. The planetary A index was 8 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 8.3).
Three hour interval K indices: 22012224 (planetary), 22122223 (Boulder).

The background x-ray flux is at the class A3 level.

At midnight there were 3 spotted regions on the visible solar disk. The solar flare activity level was very low. No C class events were recorded during the day.

Region 10884 decayed in the leading spot section. A B6.4 event peaking at 19:52 was associated with a weak type II radio sweep.
Region 10885 developed several small spots and was quiet.

Spotted regions not numbered by NOAA/SEC:
[S655] This region emerged in the northeast quadrant on May 22. Location at midnight: N07E58.

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

May 20-22: No partly or fully Earth directed CMEs were observed in LASCO imagery.

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

No obvious coronal holes are currently in or approaching Earth facing positions.

Processed SOHO/EIT 284 image at 13:06 UTC on May 22. The darkest areas on the solar disk are likely coronal holes.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet on May 23-26.

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

Propagation

Long distance low and medium frequency (below 2 MHz) propagation along east-west paths over high and upper middle latitudes is poor. Propagation on long distance northeast-southwest paths is poor. Trans Atlantic propagation conditions are normally monitored every night on 1470 kHz. Radio Vibración (Venezuela) and Radio Cristal del Uruguay were both audible tonight. On other frequencies a few stations from Brazil and Argentina were noted while North America was represented by 930 CJYQ, 1510 WWZN and 1660 WWRU.

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. SEC active region numbers in the table below and in the active region map above are the historic SEC/USAF numbers.

Active region Date numbered SEC
spot
count
STAR
spot
count
Location at midnight Area Classification Comment
10884 2006.05.19 6 4 S13E08 0040 CSO classification was CAO at midnight, area 0030
10885 2006.05.20 6 9 S12E17 0060 DSO classification was DAO at midnight
S655 2006.05.22   3 N07E58 0020 CAO  
Total spot count: 12 16  
SSN: 32 46  

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)
2005.02 97.2 29.2 33.9 (-0.7)
2005.03 89.9 24.5 33.5 (-0.4)
2005.04 86.0 24.2 31.6 (-1.9)
2005.05 99.3 42.7 28.9 (-2.7)
2005.06 93.7 39.3 28.8 (-0.1)
2005.07 96.4 40.1 29.1 (+0.3)
2005.08 90.5 36.4 27.4 (-1.7)
2005.09 91.1 21.9 25.8 (-1.6)
2005.10 77.0 8.5 25.5 (-0.3)
2005.11 86.3 18.0 (24.5 predicted, -1.0)
2005.12 90.7 41.2 (21.8 predicted, -2.7)
2006.01 83.4 15.4 (18.7 predicted, -3.1)
2006.02 76.5 4.7 (15.6 predicted, -3.1)
2006.03 75.4 10.8 (13.4 predicted, -2.2)
2006.04 89.0 30.2 (12.7 predicted, -0.7)
2006.05 80.3 (1) 24.3 (2) (12.2 predicted, -0.5)

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% lower.

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


[DX-Listeners' Club]