Solar Terrestrial Activity Report [Image] Last update December 11, 2002 at 03:50 UTC. [Solar and geomagnetic data - last 4 weeks (updated daily)] [Solar wind and electron fluence charts (updated daily)] [Solar cycles 21-23 (last update December 2, 2002)] [Solar cycles 1-20] [Graphical comparison of cycles 21, 22 and 23 (last update December 2, 2002)] [Graphical comparison of cycles 10, 13, 17, 20 and 23 (last update December 2, 2002)] [Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2002 (last update October 13, 2002)] [Archived reports (last update December 9, 2002)] Recent activity The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled on December 10. Solar wind speed ranged between 392 and 502 km/sec. Solar flare activity was moderate. Solar flux was 161.4, the planetary A index was 7 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour ap indices: 8.4). Three hour interval K indices: 22122322 (planetary), 22212213 (Boulder). The background x-ray flux is at the class B8 level. At midnight there were 9 spotted regions on the visible disk, 1 of which has not yet been numbered. A total of 10 C and 1 M class flares were recorded during the day. C2.1 flares at 11:02 and 17:22 UTC were optically unaccounted. Region 10209 was quiet and stable and will rotate out of view today. Region 10212 decayed further and was quiet. Region 10213 decayed into spotless plage. Region 10215 decayed slowly and quietly. Region 10216 decayed and was spotless by early evening. Region 10217 decayed slowly and could soon become spotless. Region 10218 was quiet and stable. Region 10219 was quiet and stable. Region 10220 developed slowly early in the day, slow decay was observed after the M flare. Another minor M class flare is possible. Flares: C5.5 at 01:32, C2.9 at 03:59, C2.8 at 04:08, C4.0 long duration event peaking at 07:22, M1.1 at 12:26, C1.3 at 14:48 and C2.6 at 19:36 UTC. Region 10221 developed slowly and was quiet. Spotted regions not yet numbered by SEC: [S50] A new region emerged quickly in the southeast quadrant on December 10. Location at midnight: S07E09. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) December 8-10: No obviously geoeffective CMEs noted. Coronal holes Coronal hole history (starting late October 2002) Compare today's report with the situation one solar rotation ago: 29 days ago 28 days ago 27 days ago A fairly small, decaying, recurrent coronal hole in the southern hemisphere was in a geoeffective position on December 10-11. [Image] Processed SOHO EIT 284 image at 19:06 UTC on December 10. Any black areas on the solar disk are likely coronal holes. Forecast The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled on December 11-13. A weak coronal stream will likely begin on December 13. Long distance medium wave (AM) band propagation along east-west paths over high and upper middle latitudes is fair. Coronal holes (1) Coronal mass M and X class flares (3) ejections (2) [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) [Image] Composite image based on a SOHO/MDI continuum image and overlaid by a coronal hole image. Region numbering has been included. 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 just prior to midnight) and data for regions not numbered by SEC or where SEC has observed no spots. Solar Date SEC STAR Location region numbered spot spot at AreaClassification Comment countcount midnight 10208 2002.11.29 N11W77 plage 10209 2002.11.30 1 1 S17W79 0050 HSX 10212 2002.12.02 6 8 N14W31 0030 DSO 10213 2002.12.03 1 N15W12 0010 AXX now spotless 10215 2002.12.05 10 9 S18E04 0060 DAO classification was CSO at midnight 10216 2002.12.08 2 S23W66 0020 DSO now spotless 10217 2002.12.08 1 2 N12E29 0010 AXX classification was BXO at midnight 10218 2002.12.08 3 5 S18E42 0060 CSO 10219 2002.12.09 1 2 S06W38 0010 HSX 10220 2002.12.09 16 23 S12E33 0310 DAI beta-gamma 10221 2002.12.09 1 4 N23E48 0020 HSX classification was CSO at midnight S42 emerged on S10W60 plage 2002.12.04 S49 emerged on S24E18 plage 2002.12.09 S50 emerged on 12 S07E09 0050 DAO 2002.12.10 Total spot count: 42 66 SSN: 142 156 Monthly solar cycle data Average Month solar International sunspot Smoothed sunspot flux at number number Earth 2000.04 184.2 125.5 120.8 cycle 23 sunspot max. 2000.07 202.3 170.1 119.8 2001.11 210.6 106.5 115.5 (+1.5) 2001.12 235.1 132.2 114.6 (-0.9) 2002.01 226.6 114.1 113.5 (-1.1) 2002.02 205.0 107.4 114.7 (+1.2) 2002.03 179.5 98.4 113.4 (-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 (106.4 predicted, -2.4) 2002.07 173.5 99.9 (102.8 predicted, -3.6) 2002.08 183.6 116.4 (99.6 predicted, -3.2) 2002.09 175.8 109.3 (96.6 predicted, -3.0) 2002.10 167.0 97.5 (93.1 predicted, -3.5) 2002.11 168.7 95.0 (87.8 predicted, -5.3) 2002.12 151.0 (1) 44.6 (2) (83.5 predicted, -4.3) 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. Comments and suggestions are always welcome. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [DX-Listeners' Club] [DX News]