Last update issued on February 12, 2003 at 04:30 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 10, 2003)]
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active on February 11. Solar wind speed ranged between 351 and 447 km/sec.
Solar flux measured at 20h UTC on 2.8 GHz was 134.9. The planetary A
index was 12 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 12.1).
Three hour interval K indices: 43322331 (planetary), 33322132 (Boulder).
The background x-ray flux is at the class B3 level.
At midnight there were 8 spotted regions on the visible disk. Solar flare activity was low. Only 1 C class event was recorded during the day.
Region 10276 was quiet and stable.
Region 10277 decayed quickly. At the current rate of decay the region will soon become spotless.
Region 10278 decayed slowly and quietly.
Region 10280 decayed slowly. Flare: C2.3 at 17:31 UTC. [This region produced a C8.7
flare at 01:51 UTC on February 12, a type II radio sweep was associated with the event.]
Region 10281 was quiet and stable.
Region 10282 developed slowly and was quiet.
Region 10283 was generally unchanged and quiet.
Region 10285 was quiet and stable.
February 9-11: 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 trans equatorial coronal hole and a southern polar coronal hole extension will rotate into a geoeffective position on February 12-18.
Processed SOHO EIT 284 image at 01:06 UTC on February 12. Any black areas on the solar disk are likely coronal holes.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled on February 12-14. A coronal stream will likely reach Earth on February 15 and could cause unsettled to minor storm conditions until February 21, isolated major storm conditions are possible during the early phase. Long distance medium wave (AM) band propagation along east-west paths over high and upper middle latitudes is very poor, propagation along north-south paths is fair.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10276 | 2003.02.01 | 4 | 5 | S14W51 | 0030 | DSO | |
| 10277 | 2003.02.04 | 11 | 13 | S18W21 | 0030 | DSO |
classification was CSO at midnight |
| 10278 | 2003.02.04 | 7 | 3 | N18W16 | 0030 | CSO |
classification was HSX at midnight |
| 10279 | 2003.02.05 | S12W74 | plage | ||||
| 10280 | 2003.02.06 | 8 | 5 | S06W42 | 0030 | DSO | |
| 10281 | 2003.02.06 | 2 | 2 | S15E07 | 0020 | HSX | |
| 10282 | 2003.02.07 | 4 | 7 | N10W19 | 0030 | HRX |
classification was DAO at midnight, area 0050 |
| 10283 | 2003.02.07 | 5 | 4 | N00E00 | 0020 | DSO |
classification was CAO at midnight |
| 10284 | 2003.02.08 | 1 | N12W58 | 0000 | AXX | actually spotless | |
| 10285 | 2003.02.08 | 2 | 2 | S11E38 | 0060 | CAO |
classification was HAX at midnight, both spots negative polarity |
| 10286 | 2003.02.09 | S13W45 | plage | ||||
| S88 | emerged on 2003.02.04 |
S08W79 | plage | ||||
| S90 | emerged on 2003.02.04 |
S13W19 | now spotless | ||||
| S96 | emerged on 2003.02.06 |
S03W60 | plage | ||||
| Total spot count: | 44 | 41 | |||||
| SSN: | 134 | 121 | |||||
| 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 | 137.1 (1) | 46.9 (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.
| [DX-Listeners' Club] |