Solar activity declined this week, with average daily sunspot numbers dropping from 139 to 122, and the average daily solar flux decreasing from 166.8 to 154.8. This contrasts the current reporting week of June 8 – 14with the previous 7 days.
The average daily planetary A index decreased from 7.3 to 5.7, and average daily middle latitude A index from 8.6 to 6.7.
On June 14, spaceweather.com reported two new sunspot groups emerging across the sun’s southeastern horizon.
Forecasters Gervase and Kiser of the U.S. Air Force predict that the solar flux will be 150 on June 15 – 16; 155 on June 17 – 18; 150, 155, 155, and 165 on June 19 – 22; 170 on June 23 – 25; 168, 165, and 162 on June 26 – 28; 160 on June 29 through July 4; 165 on July 5; 170 on July 6 – 8; 155, 157, 153, and 160 on July 9 – 12; 150 on July 13 – 14, and 155 on July 15 – 17.
Predicted planetary A index is 8, 14, 10, and 8 on June 15 – 18; 5, 5, and 8 on June 19 – 21; 5 on June 22 – 26; 12 on June 27 – 28; 5 on June 29 – 30; 12 and 8 on July 1 – 2; 5 on July 3 – 7; 12 on July 8 – 10; 5, 5, and 12 on July 11 – 13, and 10 on July 14 – 15.
These predictions look great for ARRL Field Day (June 24 – 25) because solar flux peaks at 170 on June 23 – 25, and the predicted planetary A index is a nice, quiet 5 on June 22 – 26. Next week, we will present an updated forecast just prior to Field Day weekend.
Follow the link below for an image of the ISS over a sunspot:
This link shows the same, but in video format:
Check out this link for a study of the sun’s coldest region:
More sunspots can be seen at the following link:
Sunspot numbers for June 8 – 14, 2023, were 149, 152, 116, 116, 116, 98, and 107, with a mean of 122. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 168.5, 164.3, 161.2, 153.8, 146.1, 146.3, and 143.5, with a mean of 154.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 4, 5, 9, 6, 6, and 5, with a mean of 5.7. Middle latitude A index was 6, 6, 4, 10, 8, 8, and 5, with a mean of 6.7.