Last update issued on February 24, 2003 at 03:00 UTC.
[Solar and geomagnetic data
- last 4 weeks (updated daily)]
[Solar wind and electron
fluence charts (updated daily)]
[Solar cycles 21-23 (last
update February 2, 2003)]
[Solar cycles 1-20]
[Graphical comparison of
cycles 21, 22 and 23 (last update February 2, 2003)]
[Graphical comparison of
cycles 10, 13, 17, 20 and 23 (last update February 2, 2003)]
[Historical solar and geomagnetic
data charts 1954-2002 (last update January 27, 2003)]
[Archived reports (last update February 17, 2003)]
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active on February 23. Solar wind speed ranged between 496 and 640 km/sec under the influence of a high speed stream. Wind speed decreased slowly during the day.
Solar flux measured at 20h UTC on 2.8 GHz was 104.0 (adjusted to 1 AU this is the lowest solar flux level since April 23,
1999). The planetary A
index was 11 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 11.8).
Three hour interval K indices: 23224322 (planetary), 23214222 (Boulder).
The background x-ray flux is at the class A8 level.
At midnight there were 3 spotted regions on the visible disk, 1 of which has not yet been numbered by SEC/NOAA. Solar flare activity was very low with no flares or even sub flares recorded.
Region 10288 was quiet and stable. A small trailing spot emerged.
Region 10290 decayed quietly losing a significant amount of penumbral area. Some small spots emerged.
Spotted regions not yet numbered by SEC/NOAA:
[S106] A new region emerged in the southeast quadrant. This region is small and does not currently appear capable of
significant development. Location at midnight: S06E19.
February 21-23: No obviously geoeffective CMEs observed.
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 recurrent, trans equatorial coronal hole (CH21) will rotate into a geoeffective position on February 23-24. A coronal hole (CH22) in the southern hemisphere is probably too far to the south to be geoeffective, its northernmost extension may become geoeffective on February 26.
Processed SOHO EIT 284 image at 19:06 UTC on February 23. Any black areas on the solar disk are likely coronal holes.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled on February 24-25. A high speed stream originating in CH21 will likely reach Earth either late on February 25 or early on February 26 and cause a disturbance lasting until February 27 with the geomagnetic field becoming unsettled to active. Long distance medium wave (AM) band propagation along east-west paths over high and upper middle latitudes is poor, propagation along north-south paths is fair to good. [Propagation conditions are currently monitored every night. Main monitoring frequency: 1470 kHz. Dominant station tonight: Radio Cristal del Uruguay, unidentified stations from Brazil audible after s/off at 02:04 UTC]
| 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.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10288 | 2003.02.15 | 1 | 2 | N14W40 | 0040 | HSX |
classification was CSO at midnight |
| 10290 | 2003.02.18 | 20 | 23 | N18W21 | 0340 | EKI |
area was 0260 at midnight |
| 10291 | 2003.02.21 | S23W21 | plage | ||||
| S102 | emerged on 2003.02.15 |
S08W64 | plage | ||||
| S105 | emerged on 2003.02.20 |
S28W29 | plage | ||||
| S106 | emerged on 2003.02.23 |
1 | S06E19 | 0010 | AXX | ||
| Total spot count: | 21 | 26 | |||||
| SSN: | 41 | 56 | |||||
| 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) |
| 2002.01 | 226.6 | 114.1 | 113.5 (-1.1) |
| 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 | (99.7 predicted, -3.0) |
| 2002.09 | 175.8 | 109.6 | (96.7 predicted, -3.0) |
| 2002.10 | 167.0 | 97.5 | (93.2 predicted, -3.5) |
| 2002.11 | 168.7 | 95.0 | (88.0 predicted, -5.2) |
| 2002.12 | 157.2 | 81.6 | (83.6 predicted, -4.4) |
| 2003.01 | 144.0 | 79.5 | (80.6 predicted, -3.0) |
| 2003.02 | 127.4 (1) | 77.5 (2) | (75.5 predicted, -5.1) |
1) Running average based on the daily 20:00 UT 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.
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