HELIOS no. 69       24.Mar. 2003

This Helios Newsletter continues a series newsletters under the same name as above and that were issued as the newsletter of the Solar Section of the Norwegian Astronomical Society.  Helios no. 1 was issued on 2nd May 1979 and ended almost simultaneously as I resigned as the leader of that section, i.e. in August 1989.   Now I bring it to life again, started where I left it. 
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Solar Flux 10,7cm Adjusted to 1 AU - vs. - Progression

Calculated from Adjusted Flux 10,7cm Penticton
and CV-data.

Extracts from Preliminary Report and Forecast, SEL, Boulder, CO. USA:  
SWO PRF: Online Weekly in Adobe Acrobat(R) format
HELIOS 69
Activity 05 August 2002 - 31 December 2002
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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1406
05 - 11 August 2002 13 August 2002
Solar activity was low for most of the period. Activity reached moderate levels on 05 August due to a
minor M-class flare from Region 63 (N17, L = 003, class/area Eao/250 on 09 August) and 07 August
due to an isolate M-class event from Region 57 (S08, L = 146, class/area Eac/380 on 04 August). For
flare times and magnitudes, please refer to the Energetic Events or Optical Flare lists. Region 57
began the period in a decay phase and continued until it rotated beyond the western limb on 08
August. Region 61 (N08, L = 041, class/area Ekc/360 on 09 August) exhibited steady growth early in
the period and developed a minor magnetic delta configuration in the intermediate spots on 07-08
August. The only other events of interest were a number of disappearing filaments, most notable a 19
degree filament which lifted off at approximately 11/0700 UTC and was visible in LASCO EIT195
imagery. Late in the period, a moderate sized spot group Region 69 (S08, L = 297, class/area Eko/450
on 11 August) rotated onto view and appears to be developing.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1407
12 - 18 August 2002 20 August 2002
Solar activity ranged from low to high levels during the period. Activity increased to high levels on 16
August due to a long-duration M5/2n flare from Region 69 (S07, L = 298, class/area Ekc/1960 on 18
August) at 16/1232 UTC. This flare was associated with a 1600 sfu Tenflare, Type II and IV radio
sweeps, and a full-halo CME. Region 69 was very large with multiple, persistent delta magnetic
configurations. Moderate activity occurred during 13 – 15 and 17 – 18 August due to low-level M-class
flares from Region 61 (N08, L = 041, class/area Ekc/360 on 09 August), Region 66 (N14, L =
332, class/area Dai/140 on 14 August), and Region 69.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1408
19 - 25 August 2002 27 August 2002
Solar activity was at high levels on 20 – 22 August and again on 24 August. Region 69 (S08, L=299,
class/area Ekc/1990, on 19 August) produced an X3/1f on 24 August with an associated 1200 sfu Tenflare,
Type II and Type IV radio sweeps, and a full halo CME. Region 69 produced the majority of activity
throughout the period including numerous M-class and C-class flare with strong radio components. For flare
times and magnitudes, please refer to the Energetic Events or Optical Flare lists. Region 69 was a large and
magnetically complex spot group early in the period. It entered a gradual decay phase on 20 August and
rotated beyond the west limb on 24 August. Other regions of interest were Region 83 (S19, L=231, class/area
Fao/170 on 23 August) and Region 87 (S07, L156, class/area Dki/410 on 25 August). Region 83 produced a
number of M-class events and developed a beta-gamma magnetic configuration. At the close of the period
Region 87 was a moderately sized spot group with a beta-gamma magnetic configuration.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1409
26 August - 01 September 2002 03 September 2002
Solar activity ranged from low to high levels. Activity was low on 27, 31 August and 01 September.
Moderate levels were reached on 26, 28 and 29 August. Activity was at high levels on 30 August due
to an X1/Sn flare at 30/1329 UTC from Region 95 (N07, L= 059 class/area Fkc/810 on 31 August).
This flare was associated with a Type II radio sweep and a Tenflare, however, no Earth directed CME
was observed. Region 95 rotated onto the east limb on 29 August and was fairly active, producing an
M-class flare and numerous C-class flares (For flare times and magnitudes, refer to the Energetic
Events or Optical Flare lists). Region 95 has shown some mixing of polarities in the intermediate
spots and developed a small, short lived, delta magnetic configuration in the trailing spots on
31 August. At the close of the period, Region 95 was a large group with a beta-gamma magnetic
configuration.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1410
02 - 08 September 2002 10 September 2002
Solar Activity ranged from low to moderate levels. Moderate activity was observed on 03 September,
and again on 08 September, with low-level M-class flares. For flare times and magnitudes, please
refer to the Energetic Events or Optical Flare lists. Low activity was observed for the rest of the
summary period. The most significant event during the period was long duration C5/Sf flare from
Region 102 (N09, L=019, class/area Hsx/50 on 02 September) on 05 September. Associated with this
event was a disappearing solar filament, a Type II radio sweep, and a full halo CME as observed by
SOHO/LASCO C2 imagery. This event was the only activity observed from Region 102. Region
105 (S07, L=299, class/area Fko/850 on 08 September) rotated onto the visible disk on 07 September
as a large, beta-gamma spot group. Region 95 (N08, L=060, class/area Fki/750 on 03 September) was
in a gradual decay phase during the summary period. On 06 September, Region 95 simplified to a
beta magnetic configuration and at the close of the period had an area coverage of 160 millionths and
an Fso spot class.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1411
09 - 15 September 2002 17 September 2002
Solar activity was at low to moderate levels. Moderate levels were observed on 09-11 September and
15 September. The largest event was an M2.9/1n on 10 September from Region 105 (S08, L=297,
class/area Fki/1520 on 10 September). This event was associated with a Type II and Type IV radio
sweep. For flare times and magnitudes, please refer to the Energetic Events or Optical Flare lists.
Region 105 produced all the M-class activity during the period. This large magnetically complex spot
group appeared to be two separate regions when viewed in white light, however, magnetogram data
indicated a single bi-polar region with a common negative polarity field between the main leader spot
and large trailing spot. This condition changed on 14 September when a positive polarity field
developed between the two main spots. On 14 September the region was split and the trailing spot
was designated Region 114 (S12, L=288 class/area Dkc/470 on 14 September).

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1412
16 - 22 September 2002 24 September 2002
Solar Activity ranged from low to moderate levels. Moderate activity was observed on 16 September
and again on 20 September due to impulsive M-class flare activity. For flare times and magnitudes,
please refer to the Energetic Events or Optical Flare lists. Low activity was observed for the rest of the
summary period. The most significant event during the period was a long-duration C8/1f flare and
associated CME on 17 September, from Region 114 (S12, L=288, class/area Dkc/470 on 14
September). The largest region on the visible disk, Region 119 (S14, L=229, class/area Dkc/670 on
21 September), emerged rapidly over the course of the period, but did not produce much beyond some
scattered and predominantly impulsive C-class flares. Region 114 was the source of an impulsive M-class
flare on 16 September, and on 20 September, two impulsive M-class flares occurred in Region
126 (S23, L=141, class/area Dao/180 on 20 September). Type-II radio sweeps with associated CME’s
visible in SOHO/LASCO imagery occurred on 17 September and 20 September, however the ejecta
from these events did not appear earth-directed.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1413
23 - 29 September 2002 01 October 2002
Solar activity was at low to moderate levels. Activity reached moderate levels on 27 September and
again on 29 September. The largest event was an M2.6/2n flare at 29/0639 UTC from Region 134
(N12, L=77, class/area Eai/250 on 29 September). On 24 September, Region 134 rotated onto the
visible disk and has exhibited consistent growth and increasing magnetic complexity, developing a
magnetic delta configuration in the large leader spot on 27 September. On 27 September Region 134
produced an M1.8/Sf at 27/1312 UTC with an associated Type II radio sweep (400 km/s). Region
134 also produced numerous C-class flares later in the summary period. Region 125 (S09, L=166
class/area Dao/140 on 29 September) produced a long duration C7 flare at 29/0859 UTC that is
believed to be the source of a faint partial halo CME off the western limb observed by SOHO/LASCO
C2 imagery at 29/0830 UTC.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1414
30 September - 06 October 2002 08 October 2002
Solar activity ranged from low to high levels. Activity reached high levels on 04 – 05 October with the largest
event an M5 flare, on 05 October, from Region 139 (N12, L=336, class/area Dkc/680 on 05 October). A Type
II radio sweep measuring 325 km/s was associated with the M5 flare. For flare times and magnitudes, please
refer to Energetic Flare and Optical Flare Lists. Region 139 exhibited rapid growth on 03-05 October and
developed a magnetic delta configuration on 04 October, which only lasted a day. Region 139 produced two
M-class events, on 04 October, each with an associated Type II radio sweep. Region 137 (S19, L=40,
class/area Eki/310 on 03 October) produced four M-class flares on 04 October, with the largest an M4/1n at
04/0538 UTC. Region 137 showed signs of mixing polarities in the trailing spot on 03 October, but maintained
only a beta-gamma magnetic configuration. On 04 October, Region 137 entered a gradual decay phase.
Region 139 entered a gradual decay phase on 06 October, but still had signs of a weak delta configuration in
the leader spot.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1415
07 - 13 October 2002 15 October 2002
Solar activity was at low to moderate levels. Activity reached moderate levels on the last day of the
summary period with an M2.2 long duration flare that began at 13/2342 UTC from Region 159 (S12,
L=190, class/area Hsx/080 on 13 October). Associated with this M-class event was a Type II radio
sweep (est. shock speed 1000 km/s) and an east limb CME observed in SOHO/LASCO imagery.
Activity was at low levels from 07-12 October with only minor C-class flares. Region 139 (N11,
L=334 class/area Dkc/570 on 09 October) began the period with a beta-gamma magnetic configura-tion.
On 09 October, Region 139 developed a delta magnetic configuration in the leading spots but
remained relatively stable and quiescent through out the rest of the summary period. Region 149
(N16, L=243 class/area Dhi/410 on 13 October) rotated into view on 09 October and has shown
steady growth. At the close of the period Region 149 has only produced C-class events but has shown
some mixing of polarities among the smaller intermediate spots.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1416
14 - 20 October 2002 15 October 2002
Solar activity ranged from low to moderate levels. Moderate levels were observed on 15 October and
again on 20 October. The largest event was an M1.8/1b from Region 160 (S21, L196 class/area
Eao/130 on 20 October) at 20/1428 UTC. Associated with this event was a Type II radio sweep (637
km/s). Region 160 developed a beta-gamma magnetic configuration in the leading spots late in the
period. Region 149 (N14, L=243, class/area Eai/480 on 16 October) was a moderate size spot group
with a beta-gamma magnetic configuration at the beginning of the period and produced an M1 flare on
15 October. On 17 October, Region 149 entered a gradual decay phase, simplifying to a beta
magnetic configuration. Region 162 (N26, L=124, class/area Fhi/960 on 20 October) has grown
steadily since rotating onto the visible disk on 17 October, and produced two M-class flares on 20
October. Polarity mixing in the intermediate spots developed into a beta-gamma magnetic
configuration on 20 October. On 15 October, a line of central meridian filaments, extending from the
southern pole region to the western low latitude region, lifted off around 15/1200 UTC.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1417
21 - 27 October 2002 29 October 2002
Solar activity ranged from low to moderate levels. Moderate levels were observed on 22 October and
again on 25 October. The largest event was a long duration M1.5/1f at 25/1747 UTC from Region
162 (N26, L=121, area/class 1120/Fki on 23 October). Associated with this event was a Type II radio
sweep, measuring 368 km/s. Region 162 was the most significant spot group on the visible disk
during the summary period. On 22 October, the region developed a magnetic beta-gamma-delta
configuration in the intermediate spots. Region 162 produced an M1 flare on 22 October and a
number of C-class events throughout the period. In the latter half of the period, Region 162 entered a
slight decay phase.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1418
28 October - 03 November 2002 05 November 2002
Solar activity ranged from low to high levels. Activity was high on 31 October due to an optically
uncorrelated X1.2 flare observed at 31/1652 UTC. SOHO/EIT195 imagery indicates two possible
source regions: Region 162 (N26, L=121, area/class 1120/Fki on 23 October) on the NW limb or a
region beyond the SE limb. Moderate levels were observed on 28 and 29 October due to minor M-class
flares from Region 162. For flare times and magnitudes please refer to the Energetic Flare List
or Optical Flare List. Region 162 began the period in a slight decay phase and rotated beyond the west
limb on 31 October. Activity reached moderate levels again on 03 November due to an M1 flare from
Region 177 (N16, L=328, area/class 370/Eki on 02 November). Region 177 rotated onto the visible
disk on 30 October and has exhibited steady growth, developing a beta-gamma magnetic
configuration on 01 November. Region 180 (S10, L=303, class/area 150/Dao on 03 November)
appeared on the disk late in the period and has developed a beta-gamma magnetic configuration.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1419
04 - 10 November 2002 12 November 2002
Solar activity was at low to moderate levels. Moderate activity occurred on 09-10 November. The
largest event was an M4 flare on 09 November from Region 180 (S10, L=308, class/area Fkc/630 on
09 November) with an associated Type II (707 km/s) and Type IV radio sweep. A partial halo CME
was observed with this event in SOHO/LASCO C2 and C3 imagery. For flare times and magnitudes
please refer to the Optical Flare and Energetic Flare lists. Region 180 has been the dominant region
on the disk but entered a decay phase on 10 November. On 07 November, three distinct delta
configurations were observed and by 10 November only one delta configuration remained in the large
leader spot. Region 191 (S18, L=202, class/area Ekc/590 on 10 November) rotated onto the visible
disk on 08 November and has grown rapidly into a moderate sized magnetic beta spot group. Region
191 has produced only C-class activity as of the close of the period.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1420
11 - 17 November 2002 19 November 2002
Solar activity was at low to moderate levels. Moderate activity was observed for most of the summary
period. The largest events were two M2.9/1n flares, the first one occurred on 11 November and the
second one occurred on 12 November. For flare times and magnitudes please refer to the Optical
Flare and Energetic Flare lists. Both M-flares were from Region 180 (S10, L=308, class/area Fkc/630
on 09 November), which was in a gradual decay phase at the beginning of the period and rotated
beyond the west limb on 13 November. Region 180 also produced an M1 with an associated Type II
radio sweep (900 km/s) on 11 November. Region 191 (S18, L=202, class/area Fki/650 on 16
November) steadily grew during the summary period and developed a beta-gamma-delta magnetic
configuration on 14 November. Early on 14 November, Region 191 produced a long duration M1
with parallel ribbons. Late in the period Region 198 (S18, L=106, class/area Fko/590 on 17
November) rotated onto the visible disk exhibiting rapid growth and produced an M2 flare on 17
November.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1421
18 - 24 November 2002 26 November 2002
Solar Activity ranged from low to high levels. High activity was observed on 18 November, and moderate
activity was observed on 20 November. Low activity was observed for the rest of the summary period. For
flare times and magnitudes, please refer to the Energetic Events or Optical Flare lists. Region 198 (S18,
L=105, class/area Fki/640 on 18 November) was a frequent source of flare activity, including the largest flare
event of the period: an impulsive M7.4/1f event observed at 0208 UTC on 18 November. Region 191 (S18,
L=203, class/area Fac/540 on 18 November) remained impressive in white light imagery but produced little
notable flare activity during the period, and rotated beyond the west limb on 20 November. A rare spray
feature was observed in H-alpha imagery overlying Region 191, as it transited the west limb. A 33-degree
filament located near N10E27 erupted late in the summary period, between 1847-1950 UTC on 24 November.
This event was accompanied by a C1.8 x-ray enhancement and a sympathetic sub-faint optical flare from
Region 198, a Type-II radio sweep (estimated velocity = 800 km/s), and a partial halo CME observed in
SOHO/LASCO imagery.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1422
25 November - 01 December 2002 03 December 2002
Solar activity during the summary period has been low. The largest event was a C8/Sf flare on 28
November from Region 198 (S18, L=105, class/area Fki/640 on 18 November). Region 198 was in a
gradual decay phase during the summary period and rotated beyond the west limb on 29 November.
On 27-29 November, new Region 207 (S19, L=320, class/area Eao/430 on 29 November) produced a
number of minor C-class flares and sub-flares. This region grew rapidly when it first rotated onto the
visible disk but has become relatively stable by the end of the summary period. On 28 November,
Region 208 (N10, L=288, class/area Dao/210 on 30 November) rotated onto the disk and has shown
signs of polarity mixing in the leader spot.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1423
02 - 08 December 2002 10 December 2002
Solar activity has been low to moderate. On 04 December, Region 213 (N14, L=235, class/area
Cao/110 on 05 December) produced an M2.5/2n flare with an associated Type II (900 km/s) and Type
IV radio sweep. A CME was also associated with this event but no Earth directed component was
observed. Solar activity during the rest of the summary period was at low levels. Region 208 (N10,
L=290, class/area Eai/140 on 04 December) grew rapidly for the first few days it was on the visible
disk and produced a number of minor C-class flares and sub-flares. For flare times and magnitudes
please refer to the Energetic and Optical flare lists. Region 208 developed moderate magnetic
complexity early in the period as a beta-gamma classification then simplified to a beta class on 07
December. Region 214 (N13, L=315, class/area Eso/120 on 08 December) appeared later in the
period and developed moderate beta-gamma magnetic complexity. A couple of minor C-class events
were also observed from Region 214.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1424
09 - 15 December 2002 17 December 2002
Solar activity was at low to moderate levels. Moderate levels were observed on 10 December due to
an optically uncorrelated M1 flare at 10/1226 UTC. Early in the period Region 220 (S12, L=186,
class/area Dai/310 on 10 December) developed a beta-gamma magnetic configuration and was the
source of minor C-class flaring. During the latter half of the summary period, seven new regions
appeared on the visible disk. Region 224 (S18, L=116, class/area Eai/290 on 14 December) is the
most magnetically complex of the new regions, developing a beta-gamma configuration on 14
December. Region 226 (S28, L=127, class/area Eki/290 on 15 December) was the most active of the
new regions and exhibited rapid growth in area coverage. Region 226 produced over twenty optical
sub-flares and seven minor C-class flares in the first three days it was on the disk. Region 229 (N17,
L=101, class/area Dki/400 on 15 December) was the largest spot group on the disk, but has produced
only a couple of minor C-class flares and sub-flares.

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Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1425
16 - 22 December 2002 24 December 2002
Solar activity was at moderate levels. Region 226 (S28, L=127, class/area Fkc/720 on 20 December)
was the largest, most complex, and most active region on the visible disk during the period. Region
226 produced 4 M-class flares during the period, the largest of which was an impulsive M6 with an
associated Type II (868 km/s) radio sweep and tenflare. For flare times and magnitudes please refer to
the energetic and optical flare lists. On 17 December, Region 226 developed a beta-gamma-delta
magnetic configuration in the intermediate spots and the region grew steadily until 21 December when
it entered a gradual decay phase. Other M-class activity was associated with Region 229 (N19,
L=102, class/area Eki/440 on 18 December) and Region 225 (N17, L=115, class/area Dai/110 on 17
December). Region 229 produced an M2.7 with an associated halo CME, Type II (668 km/s) and
Type IV radio sweep on 19 December. Region 229 entered a decay phase on 19 December. Region
225 produced an M2.5 on 16 December with an associated Type II (428 km/s) and Type IV radio
sweep.

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...

Space Weather Highlights SWO PRF 1426
23 - 29 December 2002 31 December 2002
Solar activity ranged from very low to low levels over the course of the period. For flare times and magnitudes
please refer the energetic and optical flare lists. Region 224 (S14, L=114, class/area Dao/470 on 23
December) was the source of the largest events of the period, producing a pair of C5 flares on 24 December.
Region 226 (S28, L=124, class/area Fko/460 on 23 December) produced a C3 flare event on 23 December. An
optically uncorrelated C4 flare was observed on 25 December, when regions 224 and 226 both transited the
west limb. Activity on 26 and 29 December was limited to low level C-class flares associated with eruptive
filaments. Very low activity persisted during 27 through 28 December, with only occasional B-class flares. A
long duration, low magnitude X-ray enhancement was observed on 28 December, in association with an
apparent backside CME observed off the northwest limb. Regions 233 through 239 were numbered during the
summary period, all remaining fairly regions are small, simply structured, and mostly quiescent. Refer to the
region summary list for specific region details.
Solar wind data were available from the NASA Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft for most of
the summary period. Solar wind velocity was elevated for much of the period, due to transient effects and a
recurrent coronal hole. A six-hour period of sustained southward Bz values, and solar wind velocities near 600
km/s, were observed on 23 December. A transient shock passage occurred at approximately 1300 UTC on 24
December, in likely association with an M-class event and CME, which was observed three days earlier. In
response to a recurrent coronal hole, solar wind velocity began to increase late on 26 December and reached a
peak value near 750 km/s on 28 December.
Solar wind velocity fell to about 550 km/s by the end of the period on 29 December.
There were no greater than 10 MeV proton events at geo-synchronous orbit during the summary period.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geo-synchronous orbit reached high levels on 24-25 December and 28-
29 December, in the wake of the episodic high speed stream effects described above.
The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to major storm levels over the course of the summary period. An
isolated period of minor storming was observed on 23 December due to a sustained southward IMF
accompanied by high velocity solar wind. Periods of active conditions were observed on 24-25 December, in
response to a transient shock passage. Unsettled to minor storm conditions, with an isolated major storm
period, occurred during 26-28 December due to recurrent coronal hole effects.

Space Weather Outlook
01 - 27 January 2003
Solar activity is expected to persist at very low to low levels until about 07 January, when formerly productive
active regions (including, among others, old regions 224 and 226 described above) are expected to return to the
visible disk over the course of the following four days. Moderate flare activity may be possible for the sub-sequent
two-week period (through 23 January), depending on the characteristics of the expected returning
regions. Low to moderate activity is possible for the remainder of the forecast period.
There is a slight chance of a greater than 10 MeV proton event during the latter half of the forecast period.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geo-synchronous orbit is expected to reach event threshold on 04
January, 16-17 January, and 23-25 January, in response to recurrent high speed stream effects.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be in the range of quiet to active levels for most of the forecast period.
Active conditions are possible on 04 January, due to expected effects from a compact, trans-equatorial coronal
hole. Periods of enhanced geomagnetic activity are possible on 15-16 January and 22-24 January, due to the
expected influence of recurrent coronal holes.

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There are 6 New members since 13. Aug. 2002:

We wish you all welcome!

Helios no. 70 will be issued 01. Apr. 2003

CV-Helios Network 24 mar 2003