As the Sun Turns: Solar Minimums and Maximums

[Maria]

It is official. Former active region AR2673, aka AR2682, is now AR2685 for its third transit across the sun. This is unusual for a solar minimum. Even as an alpha, AR2685 is mighty. Never underestimate the power of this active region. NASA says that there is a 20 percent chance of an M-class solar flare for the next 48 hours. When you are outside in the sun, please be very careful as the sun appears to be extra hot. In fact, our plants have scorched leaves.

http://legacy-www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/ ... 022SRS.txt

Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 295 Issued at 0030Z on 22 Oct 2017
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 21 Oct
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 21/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2685 S11E74 128 0050 Hax 02 01 Alpha

[Maria]

AR2685 is gradually increasing in size. So far, there is quiet before the storm.

Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 296 Issued at 0030Z on 23 Oct 2017
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 22 Oct
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 22/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2685 S09E58 131 0070 Hax 02 03 Alpha

[Luke]

AR2685 must be taking steroids.

[Maria]

AR2685 must be taking steroids.

And the steroids are not having the expected results right now.

https://www.thesuntoday.org/the-sun-now/

Current pictures of the solar disc show that this active area is not very active.
In addition, its companion formerly known as AR2683 is also not very active, nor very big.

Both areas are fractions of what they originally were back in September 2017.

[Maria]

Here is the daily comment by Belgium from the Solar Influences Data analysis Center - RWC Belgium
Royal Observatory of Belgium

http://www.sidc.be/products/meu/

COMMENT: Solar activity was very low with only a single B2.2 flare peaking
at 12:41 UT from a new region rotating around the East limb in the Northern
hemisphere. The region is now numbered Catania group 61 or NOAA region
2686.
Although there is a chance for C flares and even a slight chance for an M
flare from both regions on disk, the general outlook is that flaring will
remain below C level.
Proton flux levels were at background values and are expected to remain so.
No Earth directed CME's were recorded in coronagraph data.

Solar wind speed declined slightly from around 430 km/s to around 380 km/s.
Total magnetic field was below 6nT with Bz variable and not below -4nT. The
magnetic field phi angle indicated connection to a negative sector.
Solar wind is expected to see transition into a positive polarity sector
later today and which is then followed by the influence of the high speed
stream from the equatorial extension of the northern polar positive
polarity coronal hole that started transiting the central meridian around
noon October 20.
Geomagnetic conditions were quiet to unsettled (both local K Dourbes and
NOAA Kp 1-3).
Geomagnetic conditions are expected to increase under the influence of the
upcoming high speed stream. Associated geomagnetic activity is expected to
remain limited to possible periods of minor geomagnetic storming over the
next days.
TODAY'S ESTIMATED ISN : 023, BASED ON 14 STATIONS.

[Maria]

From observing the sun at https://www.thesuntoday.org/the-sun-now/

It appears that the two active regions are already decaying. Time will tell.

[Maria]

This in from Royal Observatory of Belgium.
http://www.sidc.be/products/meu/

Again, quiet, with the exception of solar winds.

They agree that both active regions (alphas) are simple and unlikely above a B level.
Quiet solar conditions were reported with the X-ray flux touching
only marginally into the B level.
Both active regions on disk are relatively simple (Mag.Type: Alpha) and
quiet.
The X-ray flux is expected to remain below C level.
Proton flux levels were at background values and are expected to remain so.
No Earth directed CME's were recorded in coronagraph data.