Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Last major update issued on July 4, 2004 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 2, 2004)]
[Solar cycles 1-20]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 21, 22 and 23 (last update June 2, 2004)]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 2, 10, 13, 17, 20 and 23 (last update June 2, 2004)]
[Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2004 (last update April 28, 2004)]
[Archived reports (last update July 1, 2004)]

Recent activity

The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled on July 3. Solar wind speed ranged between 421 and 478 km/sec.

Solar flux measured at 20h UTC on 2.8 GHz was 79.5 (the lowest solar flux since the end of the last solar minimum). The planetary A index was 9 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 10.0).
Three hour interval K indices: 21233331 (planetary), 22123332 (Boulder).

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

At midnight there were 2 spotted regions on the visible disk. The solar flare activity level was very low. No C class events were recorded during the day.

Region 10639 decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 10640 decayed with penumbra disappearing from the spots in the northwest and northeast.

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

July 1-3: No obviously earth directed CMEs were detected.

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 approaching geoeffective positions.

Processed SOHO/EIT 284 image at 13:05 UTC on June 15. The darkest areas on the solar disk are likely coronal holes.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled on July 4-7.

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. When the high speed stream has arrived the color changes to green.
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.

Propagation

Long distance low and medium frequency (below 2 MHz) propagation along east-west paths over high and upper middle latitudes is poor to fair. Propagation along long distance north-south paths is poor. Trans Atlantic propagation conditions are monitored every night on 1470 kHz. Dominant station tonight: Radio Vibración (Venezuela). There were far fewer stations from South America compared to recent days, only Rádio Sociedade (Brazil) on 740 kHz had a good signal. Propagation was improved on more northerly paths with an increase in the number of stations heard from North America. Several of the usual Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and east coast USA stations were noted.

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
10638 2004.06.26     N07W69     plage
10639 2004.06.27 4 7 N08W10 0060 HSX classification was CAO
at midnight, area 0050
10640 2004.06.27 7 3 S09W13 0030 BXO classification was CSO
at midnight, area 0020
Total spot count: 11 10
SSN: 31 30

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)
2003.06 129.3 77.4 65.0 (-2.6)
2003.07 127.7 83.3 61.8 (-3.2)
2003.08 122.1 72.7 60.1 (-1.7)
2003.09 112.2 48.7 59.6 (-0.5)
2003.10 151.7 65.5 58.2 (-1.4)
2003.11 140.8 67.3 56.8 (-1.4)
2003.12 114.9 46.5 54.8 (-2.0)
2004.01 114.1 37.7 (51.1 predicted, -3.7)
2004.02 107.0 45.8 (46.9 predicted, -4.2)
2004.03 112.0 49.1 (44.1 predicted, -2.8)
2004.04 101.2 39.3 (42.1 predicted, -2.0)
2004.05 99.8 41.5 (38.8 predicted, -3.3)
2004.06 97.4 43.2 (36.0 predicted, -2.8)
2004.07 80.5 (1) 2.9 (2) (34.2 predicted, -1.8)

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 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.


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