March 2012 News

MARCH NEWS

March finishing with a whimper as a single unipolar region counted today with overall area falling again. Returning region 1429 is dead in the water with a weak magnetic signature at this stage. March has been weak overall, but there may be some action in the pipeline.

A single region counted today with overall area falling slightly. The specks continue to dominate as the Sun continues its slumber. Some talk of the return of region 1429 returning with a CME on the far side recorded on the 26th March. Old region 1429 is now rotating onto the face in the north and at this stage is a basic plage, but there is more to follow.

A single region counted today with overall area gaining slightly. Even more specks today, if L&P are measuring today they would have a field day. Some possible future activity in both hemispheres showing on Stereo Behind.

A single region counted today with overall area remaining static. Region 1442 has not passed the 24 hour rule and will not be counted yesterday. Many specks this month which should place a large gap between the LSC and the big boys.

Two regions counted today with overall area increasing. Region 1442 now getting above speck status.

Two regions counted today with overall area increasing. Region 1438 might be lucky to make the grade tomorrow. March will not be a strong month.

Two regions counted today with overall area increasing. Region 1445 growing in size but unipolar region 1438 now showing signs of diminishing which is unusual this early for this type of region. F10.7 flux remaining low. The southern hemisphere looking stronger than the north right now, although still very weak. Many other specks falling below the Wolf type threshold.

Two regions counted today with overall area increasing. New Region 1445 appearing in the south but at this stage not looking overly strong.

One small unipolar region counted today with overall area decreasing again. Region 1427 decaying rapidly and failing the 24 hour rule, and so will not be counted yesterday. Today we have one spot and about 14 specs at 03:00 UTC, if L&P were measuring today we would have a speck ratio of 14 to 1. L&P treat each speck with the same importance as the single spot, so the average reading today would show a very low level of magnetic strength skewed because of the high speck ratio. Specks have a much lower magnetic reading in general.

Two regions counted today with overall area decreasing again. A new region appearing in the south today with F10.7 flux still remaining under 100

Two regions counted today with overall area decreasing again. A new so far weak region 1438 rotating onto the face. Overall activity for March to date is low with today seeing the F10.7 flux values once again below 100.

Three regions counted today with overall area decreasing. Some other specks not passing the threshold.

Three regions counted today with overall area decreasing by a small amount. Region 1434 is back from the dead but will still be subject to the 24 hour rule.

Two regions counted today with overall area rising by a small amount. Region 1434 now breaking up and falling below the threshold while new region 1435 forms albeit for a short while. Activity remains low.

Two regions counted today with overall area dropping again. F10.7 flux dropping through the 100 barrier. 1434 just making the grade today.

Two regions counted today with overall area dropping again. Solar activity looks to be returning to very quiet with the chance of a spotless day in the near future if we are lucky.

Three regions counted today with overall area dropping. Solar activity looks to be returning to very quiet.

Three regions counted today with overall area dropping. F10.7 flux rising as a result of recent flare activity from region 1429.

Three regions counted today with overall area dropping a moderate amount again. F10.7 flux returning to low levels also. Activity could be trending to quiet going by the Stereo Behind image.

Three regions counted today with a new small region appearing, and overall area dropping a moderate amount again. Regions 1432 and 1430 decaying into non counting areas with new region 1434 not looking overly strong at this stage.

Four regions counted today with a new small region appearing, and overall area dropping a moderate amount again. Region 1428 not passing the threshold with other regions looking weak. Region 1429 may be amongst the largest regions of SC24 but we must keep in mind it is a reversed polarity region. Any flux traveling to the pole from this region will reduce the reversing process required for a Hale cycle reversal. The pipeline continues to look weak.

Four regions counted today with a new small region appearing, and overall area dropping a moderate amount again. Some regions tomorrow might be struggling to make the grade..

Three regions counted today with overall area dropping a moderate amount. All regions losing area along with a drop in the darkness ratio.

Three regions counted today with overall area rising a small amount. Overall darkness slipping back suggesting perhaps a weakness developing? F10.7 flux also now declining.

Three regions counted today with overall area rising moderately again. Region 1429 displaying a reverse polarity structure on the magnetogram, along with an unusual formation. 1429 getting closer to region 1339 which measured 28005 pixels. A large X class flare from 1429 will put aurora watchers on alert. The POES segment in my Google Earth widget currently down due to NOAA software upgrades. An alternative view HERE.

Three regions counted today with overall area rising sharply again, the Sun has woken from its recent slumber. Region 1429 displaying a reverse polarity structure on the magnetogram, along with an unusual formation. 1429 is still well short of region 1339 which measured 28005 pixels. In Australia the "Big Wet" continues with many parts of the country under water.

Four regions counted today with overall area rising sharply again, the Sun has woken from its recent slumber. Region 1429 nearly doubling in size. In Australia the "Big Wet" continues with many parts of the country under water.

Three regions counted today with overall area rising sharply. Region 1429 surprisingly not showing on the Stereo Behind image, perhaps suggesting low background strength. F10.7 flux showing a recent flare activity component.