Last update issued on March 4, 2003 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 March 3, 2003)]
[Solar cycles 1-20]
[Graphical comparison of
cycles 21, 22 and 23 (last update March 3, 2003)]
[Graphical comparison of
cycles 10, 13, 17, 20 and 23 (last update March 3, 2003)]
[Historical solar and geomagnetic
data charts 1954-2002 (last update January 27, 2003)]
[Archived reports (last update March 3, 2003)]
The geomagnetic field was quiet to active on March 3. Solar wind speed ranged between 350 and 501 km/sec. A high speed coronal hole stream began to influence the solar wind from approximately 08h UTC with a slow and gradual increase in solar wind speed observed since then. The interplanetary magnetic field was occasionally strongly southwards after 1430 UTC.
Solar flux measured at 20h UTC on 2.8 GHz was 149.1. The planetary A
index was 15 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 16.9).
Three hour interval K indices: 31233444 (planetary), 32323443 (Boulder).
The background x-ray flux is at the class B3-B4 level.
At midnight there were 7 spotted regions on the visible disk, 1 of which has not yet been numbered by SEC/NOAA. Solar flare activity was low with only a single C class event recorded.
Region 10294 decayed slowly in the previously spotted sections. New spots emerged to the southwest. These spots may belong
to a new region but has been included in this region until further development has been observed.
Region 10295 was mostly quiet and stable.
Region 10296 was quiet and added further spots in the very strong positive polarity section. M class flares are possible.
Region 10297 was quiet and stable.
New region 10298 emerged in the southeast quadrant.
[New region 10299 was split off from region 10296. This was a doubtful decision by SEC/NOAA as the spots in region 10299
appear to be the main negative polarity spots of region 10296.]
New region 10300 rotated into view at the northeast limb.
Spotted regions not yet numbered by SEC/NOAA:
[S117] A new region rotated into view at the southeast limb on March 2. Location at midnight: S25E61. Flare:
C2.4 long duration event peaking at 21:05 UTC.
March 1-3: No obviously geoeffective CMEs observed. A CME was observed off of the southeast limb after the C2.4 LDE in region S117 on March 3.
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 coronal hole (CH23) in the northern hemisphere with a trans equatorial extension was in a geoeffective position on March 1. A coronal hole (CH24) in the southern hemisphere was in a geoeffective position on March 2-3.
Processed SOHO EIT 284 image at 01:06 UTC on March 4. Any black areas on the solar disk are likely coronal holes.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be unsettled to active until March 7 due to high speed streams from CH23 and CH24. Quiet to unsettled conditions are likely from March 8. 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 poor to fair. [Trans Atlantic propagation conditions are currently monitored every night on 1470 kHz. Dominant stations tonight: Radio Cristal del Uruguay and Radio Rafaela (both with weak signals)]
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10292 | 2003.02.25 | 5 | S09W92 | 0080 | DAO | rotated out of view | |
| 10293 | 2003.02.27 | S17W24 | plage | ||||
| 10294 | 2003.02.27 | 12 | 7 | S07W13 | 0030 | BXO |
classification was DRO at midnight |
| 10295 | 2003.02.27 | 6 | 6 | S18E14 | 0050 | CSO |
classification was CAO at midnight |
| 10296 | 2003.02.28 | 20 | 27 | N11E35 | 0600 | DKI |
classification was EKI at midnight, STAR spot count includes region 10299 |
| 10297 | 2003.03.01 | 4 | 4 | S16E43 | 0040 | DAO |
classification was CSO at midnight |
| 10298 | 2003.03.03 | 5 | 7 | S08E18 | 0020 | DSO |
classification was DAO at midnight |
| 10299 | 2003.03.03 | 3 | N12E47 | 0070 | CAO |
only negative polarity spots, these are the trailing spots of region 10296 |
|
| 10300 | 2003.03.03 | 1 | 1 | N16E66 | 0010 | AXX |
classification was HRX at midnight |
| S114 | emerged on 2003.03.01 |
S14W39 | plage | ||||
| S115 | emerged on 2003.03.02 |
S19E05 | now spotless | ||||
| S116 | emerged on 2003.03.02 |
N13W17 | now spotless | ||||
| S117 | visible on 2003.03.02 |
1 | S25E61 | 0010 | AXX | ||
| Total spot count: | 56 | 53 | |||||
| SSN: | 136 | 123 | |||||
| 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 | 98.7 (-4.0) |
| 2002.09 | 175.8 | 109.6 | (94.7 predicted, -4.0) |
| 2002.10 | 167.0 | 97.5 | (91.2 predicted, -3.5) |
| 2002.11 | 168.7 | 95.0 | (86.0 predicted, -5.2) |
| 2002.12 | 157.2 | 81.6 | (81.6 predicted, -4.4) |
| 2003.01 | 144.0 | 79.5 | (78.6 predicted, -3.0) |
| 2003.02 | 124.5 | 46.2 | (73.6 predicted, -5.0) |
| 2003.03 | 135.7 (1) | 4.5 (2) | (67.9 predicted, -5.7) |
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] |