Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on June 17, 2012 at 06:35 UTC.

[Solar and geomagnetic data - last month (updated daily)]
[Solar wind and electron fluence charts (updated daily)
[Solar cycles 21-24 (last update June 2, 2012)]
[Solar cycles 1-20]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 21, 22, 23 and 24 (last update June 2, 2012)]
[Graphical comparison of cycles 10, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 24 (last update June 2, 2012)]
[Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2006 (last update April 5, 2007)]
[Archived reports since January 2003 (last update May 3, 2012)]

[POES auroral activity level since October 2009 - updated June 10, 2012]
[Solar polar fields vs solar cycles - updated June 27, 2011]

Recent activity

The geomagnetic field was quiet to major storm on June 16. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 277 and 620 km/s. A weak solar wind shock was observed at 08:52 UTC at SOHO, likely the arrival of the CME observed on June 13. Another solar wind shock was observed at 20:30 UTC at SOHO, most likely the arrival of the CME observed on June 14. The total field of the IMF became very strong after 22h UTC. At the time SOHO recorded an exceptionally high solar wind density peak at 108 p/cm3. With Bz mostly northwards during the initial phase of the disturbance, the associated geomagnetic disturbance reach only major storm levels. However, the IMF has swung gradually southwards early on June 17 and could cause major or even severe geomagnetic storming.

Solar flux measured at 20h UTC on 2.8 GHz was 134.5 (increasing 3.7 over the last solar rotation). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 21 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 21.4). Three hour interval K indices: 11133346 (planetary), 11133346 (Boulder).

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

At midnight UTC the visible solar disk had 10 spotted active regions (in 2K resolution SDO images).

Region 11504 [S17W24] matured, however, there is still an easily detectable magnetic delta structure in the southwestern part of the southeastermost penumbra. M flares are possible.
Region 11505 [S12W27] decayed further and was quiet. The region is slowly approaching AR 11504.
Region 11506 [N10W19] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 11507 [S28W50] decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 11509 [S16W43] developed slowly and was quiet.

Spotted active regions not numbered or interpreted differently by NOAA/SWPC:
S1721
[N10W50] was quiet and stable.
New region S1732 [S13E52] emerged with a tiny spot.
New region S1733 [N14E12] emerged with a single spot.
New region S1734 [N23W28] emerged with a tiny spot.
New region S1735 [S41W03] emerged with a tiny spot at a high latitude.

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

June 14: A large symmetrical full halo CME was associated with the M1.9 LDE in AR 11504..
June 15-16: No obvious CMEs were observed in LASCO and STEREO imagery.

Coronal holes

Coronal hole history (since October 2002)
Compare today's report to the situation one solar rotation ago: 28 days ago 27 days ago 26 days ago

No obvious coronal holes are currently in or near potentially geoeffective positions. 

Coronal hole map

The above coronal hole map is based on a method where coronal holes are detected automatically. While the method may need some fine tuning, it has significant advantages over detecting coronal holes manually. The main improvement is the ability to detect coronal holes at and just beyond the solar limbs. Early results using this method for SDO images over a span of several weeks indicate a good match between coronal holes observed over the visible disk and their extent and position at the east and west limbs. Note that the polar coronal holes are easily detected using this method, the extent and intensity of both CHs are consistent with other data sources.

Propagation

Long distance low and medium frequency (below 2 MHz) propagation along paths north of due west over high and upper middle latitudes is very poor. Propagation on long distance northeast-southwest paths is fair to good.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be unsettled to major storm on June 17 with a chance of severe storm intervals due to CME effects. Quiet to unsettled is likely on June 18 becoming quiet on June 19.

Coronal holes (1) Coronal mass ejection (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.

Active solar regions

Click on image for higher resolution image) Compare to the previous day's image

When available the active region map has a coronal hole polarity overlay where red (pink) is negative and blue (blue-green) is positive.

Data for all numbered solar regions according to the Solar Region Summary provided by NOAA/SWPC. 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 SWPC or where SWPC has observed no spots. SWPC active region numbers in the table below and in the active region map above are the historic SWPC/USAF numbers.

Active region Date numbered
detected
Spot count Location at midnight Area Classification SDO / HMI 4K continuum
image with magnetic polarity overlay
Comment
SWPC STAR SDO SWPC STAR Current Previous
2K 1K
11507 2012.06.07
2012.06.10
10 40 20 S26W51 0130 DSO EAI

SWPC considers this to be two regions

location: S28W50

area: 0220

11504 2012.06.08
2012.06.09
18 27 16 S17W27 0750 EKC EHC

beta-gamma-delta

area: 0950

location: S17W24

11505 2012.06.09 8 15 9 S10W28 0070 DSO DRO location: S12W27
S1719 2012.06.09       S25W35         plage
11506 2012.06.09
2012.06.10
4 15 5 N11W18 0030 DSO BXO

 

S1721 2012.06.09   1   N10W50 0000   AXX  
S1723 2012.06.09       S31W59           plage
11509 2012.06.10
2012.06.15
1 5 3 S16W43 0020 HRX BXO  
11508 2012.06.13 9     S29W44 0070 DSO       part of AR 11507
S1729 2012.06.13       N17W12         plage
S1730 2012.06.13       N20W37           plage
S1731 2012.06.13       S15W59           plage
S1732 2012.06.16   1   S13E52 0000   AXX    
S1733 2012.06.16   1   N14E12 0000   AXX    
S1734 2012.06.16   1   N23W28 0000   AXX    
S1735 2012.06.16   1   S41W03 0000   AXX    
Total spot count: 50 107 53  
Sunspot number: 110 207 103  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted penumbral SN: 83 125 71  (Sum of total spot count + classification weighting for each AR. Classification weighting: X=0, R=3, A/S=5, H/K=10)
Relative sunspot number (Wolf number): 66 72 57 k * (sunspot number). k = 0.6 for SWPC, k = 0.35 (changed from 0.45 on March 1, 2011) for STAR SDO 2K, k = 0.55 for STAR SDO 1K

Monthly solar cycle data

Month Average measured solar flux International sunspot number (SIDC) Smoothed sunspot number Average ap
(3)
2008.07 65.7 (SF minimum) 0.5 2.8 (-0.4)  
2008.12 69.2 0.8 1.7 (-)
sunspot minimum
 
2011.03 115.0 56.2 36.9 (+3.5) 8.18
2011.04 112.6 54.4 41.8 (+4.9) 8.83
2011.05 95.8 41.6 47.6 (+5.8) 8.94
2011.06 95.8 37.0 53.2 (+5.6) 8.06
2011.07 94.2 43.9 57.2 (+4.0) 8.16
2011.08 101.7 50.6 59.0 (+1.8) 7.26
2011.09 133.8 78.0 59.5 (+0.5) 12.27
2011.10 137.3 88.0 59.9 (+0.4) 8.28
2011.11 153.5 96.7 61.1 (+1.2) 5.55
2011.12 141.3 73.0 (64.3 projected, +3.2) 3.78
2012.01 132.5 58.3 (68.0 projected, +3.7) 7.15
2012.02 106.5 33.1 (71.3 projected, +3.3) 8.81
2012.03 114.7 64.2 (73.0 projected, +1.7) 16.08
2012.04 113.0 55.2 (73.2 projected, +0.2) 10.10
2012.05 121.5 69.0 (73.2 projected, +0.0) 8.75
2012.06 133.3 (1) 64.9 (2A) / 121.6 (2B) (73.9 projected, +0.7) (12.38)

1) Running average based on the daily 20:00 UTC observed solar flux value at 2800 MHz.
2A) Current impact on the monthly sunspot number based on the Boulder (NOAA/SWPC) sunspot number (accumulated daily sunspots / month days). The official SIDC international sunspot number is typically 30-50% lower. 2B) Month average to date.
3) Running average based on the quicklook and definitive Potsdam WDC ap indices. Values in red are based on the definitive international Potsdam WDC ap indices.

This report has been prepared by Jan Alvestad. It is based on analysis of data from whatever sources are available at the time the report is prepared. All time references are to the UTC day. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

SDO images are courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams.