January 2012 News

JANUARY NEWS

Thre regions counted today with a small increase in overall area. Region 1413 today making the grade but other speck groups failing. January sunspot monthly values are expected to be in decline from December.

Two regions counted today with a small increase in overall area. F10.7 flux dropping lower. A new speck region forming today underneath 1410 that failed to make the grade. The AO has finally gone negative with some changes in the NH weather over western Europe expected.

Two regions counted today with a small increase in overall area. F10.7 flux returning to low levels, there is a chance we may see flux levels sub 100 and even the slight chance of a spotless day in the not too distant future. Region 1410 showing strong magnetic strength (darkness) once again challenging L&P.

Two regions counted today with a small increase in overall area. During January we have witnessed a progressive weakening of solar activity, currently we are left with only weak unipolar type regions and not too much in the pipeline. The spike in F10.7 is probably a result of the recent X class flare from the departing region 1402. The days readings: 18:00-275.0, 20:00-137.4, 22:00-124.7.

Three regions counted today with a decrease in overall area.A new weak region rotating onto the Earth visible face. The solar wind quickly dying back to lowish levels.

Two regions counted today with a moderate decrease in overall area. The over hyped geomagnetic storms have come and gone.

Two regions counted today with a moderate decrease in overall area. There are many speck regions that will be counted by others. The January predicted monthly sunspot number is shaping up to be lower than December.

Update Wed 00:00 UTC. The Kp index was just in the last hour recording a level 5 geomagnetic disturbance. The POES satellite showing potential auroral activity once again more over Russia at a slightly higher position than the first front experienced 48 hours ago. The ACE spacecraft is down but readings from GOES showing the solar wind around 750 km per hour, which is about 300 km faster than the first front. Keep watching the live 3D viewer for further action.

Update wed 02:00 UTC. The Kp index has dropped to 3 with the POES potential aurora dropping away quickly. A full scale Google Earth image taken during the Kp reading of 4-5 available HERE. An animation of Mondays larger auroral movement available soon. Click on the pic for a live 3D aurora view.

Three regions counted today with a decrease in overall area. Yesterday I incorrectly transposed the 1401/02 values which is now amended. Overall activity is declining.

Yesterdays geomagnetic storm was short lived but produced aurorae visible in Scotland. Another geomagnetic storm is expected around Tues 1400 UTC with the Kp index already reaching 3 at 01:00 UTC (tues). Region 1402 has been responsible for the recent geomagnetic activity. Click on the pic for a live 3D aurora view.

Update Wed 00:00 UTC. The Kp index was just in the last hour recording a level 5 geomagnetic disturbance. The POES satellite showing potential auroral activity once again more over Russia at a slightly higher position than the first front experienced 48 hours ago. The ACE spacecraft is down but readings from GOES showing the solar wind around 750 km per hour, which is about 300 km faster than the first front. Keep watching the live 3D viewer for further action.

Update wed 02:00 UTC. The Kp index has dropped to 3 with the POES potential aurora dropping away quickly. A full scale Google Earth image taken during the Kp reading of 5 available HERE. An animation of Mondays larger auroral movement available soon.

Three regions counted today with a large decrease in overall area.Region 1407 following the same trend as 1405 and is not counted. The SIDC has been splitting region 1401, the back half will not be counted by the LSC over the past 2 days.

The geomagnetic storm has plateaued for the time being with Kp values holding at 4. Auroral activity being most pronounced over Russia with readings into the Fritz 1 zone. This trend is now reversing with Canada now receiving its share. Click on the pic for a live 3D view. Update: Kp values back to low, the "storm" was very brief, acheiving Kp 5 for a few hours. The edge of the aurora in the south was about 3000 km from me and not visible. Another front is expected in about 24 hours.(Tues 1400 UTC)

Four regions counted today with a large decrease in overall area. New region 1408 replacing 1405 which has shrunk below the threshold. An Earth directed CME should see some increased auroral activity over the next 48 hours. Click on the image for a live aurora feed. The solar wind remaining quiet.

A new article covering solar system dynamics and the effect of highly variable UV radiation in our atmosphere HERE.

UPDATE 15:00 UTC. Kp index at 5 with the POES satellite showing a strong aurora over Russia into the Fritz 1 zone. America missing out at this stage. Click on the pic for a live view.

Four regions counted today with a small decrease in overall area. An Earth directed CME should see some increased auroral activity over the next 48 hours. The current (Sat. 22:00 UTC) POES satellite image already suggesting some auroral movement. The solar wind remaining quiet.

A new article covering solar system dynamics and the effect of highly variable UV radiation in our atmosphere HERE.

Four regions counted today with a small increase in overall area. New region 1407 now passing the threshold minimum.

A new article covering solar system dynamics and the effect of highly variable UV radiation in our atmosphere HERE.

Three regions counted today with another moderate increase in overall area. Meanwhile some cold and snow records are being set in the USA, India, Japan and Alaska. Check out www.iceagenow.info for details.

A new article covering solar system dynamics and the effect of highly variable UV radiation in our atmosphere HERE.

Three regions counted today with another moderate increase in overall area. Yesterday the SIDC counted 10 regions with a raw count of 155. They also split region 1401 into 2 regions with a small trailing speck. The SIDC is unfortunately constrained by the Wolfer and Waldmeier method which they had to adopt.

A new article covering solar system dynamics and the effect of highly variable UV radiation in our atmosphere HERE.

Three regions counted today with a moderate increase in overall area. The solar face has increased the speck ratio on yesterday with the pipeline not looking overly strong.

Two regions counted today with an increase in overall area. Regions 1395/6/8 breaking up quickly with may specks across the face today. High speck ratio days like today put pressure on the Wolfer 0.6 reduction factor that he formulated to match Wolf, is it high enough when the speck ratio increases during low cycles which he never had the opportunity to calibrate?.

Four regions counted today with an increase in overall area. 2 new regions in the north rotating into view with 1395 shrinking under the threshold size that Wolf would not have counted. Many other specks getting a number from NOAA/SIDC

Three regions counted today with a small increase in overall area. Another small new region 1398 appearing in the north. Many other specks today that will be counted by others.

Three regions counted today with a small increase in overall area. New small region 1386 replacing outgoing region 1393. Another speck region is forming in the south.

Three regions counted today with another very big drop in overall area. F10.7 flux also taking another hit. Region 1393 just making the grade (by 1 hour) but another speck group forming in the north. Current conditions are much lower than previous months. Meanwhile Europe and some parts of the USA experience record snowfall while here in Australia the jet stream unleashed its fury straight from Antarctia that produced record cold and snow over 4 states during our peak summer period.

Three regions counted today with another big drop in overall area. F10.7 flux also taking a hit. Some possible minor regions look to be approaching.

Three regions counted today with a big drop in overall area with region 1393 shrinking and 1389 rotating off the face. January continues to display a reduction in the solar activity trend.

Four regions counted today with a reasonable increase in overall area. Region 1393 improving near the 100% scale but perhaps will not be around for long.

Four regions counted today with an increase in overall area. Region 1393 (yesterday incorrectly labeled 1395) showing strong growth over the short term with a new possible unipolar region rotating onto the face. There was a mistake in yesterdays DSN values which has been corrected.

Four regions counted today with a small increase in overall area. New region 1395 making the grade as 1390 leaves us while the pipeline continues to look weak. There will be a new report on the importance of solar EUV and its climate effects coming soon.

Four regions counted today with a decrease in overall area. Solar activity continues to decline.

Four regions counted today with a decrease in overall area. Region 1390 making the grade today but still subject to the 24 hour rule. 1389 showing strong magnetic strength which again flies in the face of L&P.

Three regions counted today with an increase in overall area. Region 1389 falling apart but the unipolar component strengthening, the LSC will count this region as 1 group today unlike the SIDC who have been counting it as 3. Other speck groups not having a single spot exceeding 333 pixels. 1389 showing strong magnetic strength which again flies in the face of L&P.

Four regions counted today with a small increase in overall area. A new area in the north appearing as region 1389 decays rapidly while the unipolar type regions continue to dominate.

Three regions counted today with a decrease in overall area. The southern hemisphere holding up the record today which is a change from recent trends. F10.7 flux values not updated as yet.

Three regions counted today with a small decrease in overall area. A new solar year begins....what does it have in store? The make or break point is upon us regarding a solar grand minimum, a hefty rise in current activity would place SC24 in the mediocre range. Continued activity at present levels or less will translate to solar grand minimum. The polar magnetic reversals will also be amongst the important graphs to watch this year

October 09 News

November 09 News