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   Home  Solar  Monthly Sunspot Numbers Thursday, May 15 2008 14:28 UT
Solar Conditions 
Monthly Sunspot Numbers

Last updated 15 May 2008 14:03 UT

                  IPS OBSERVED AND PREDICTED SOLAR INDICES CYCLE 24

                  Prepared by IPS Radio and Space Services

                         Issued on May 01  2008

------------------------ SMOOTHED SUNSPOT NUMBER ---------------------------
Year   Jan   Feb   Mar   Apr   May   Jun   Jul   Aug   Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 113.0 116.9 120.0 120.9 119.0 118.8 119.8 118.7 116.3 114.5 112.7 112.1 
2001 108.7 104.0 104.8 107.5 108.6 109.8 111.7 113.6 114.1 114.0 115.5 114.6 
2002 113.5 114.6 113.3 110.5 108.8 106.2 102.7  98.7  94.6  90.5  85.3  82.1 
2003  81.0  78.6  74.2  70.4  67.9  65.3  62.1  60.3  59.8  58.4  57.0  55.0 
2004  52.1  49.4  47.2  45.6  43.9  41.7  40.2  39.3  37.6  35.9  35.4  35.2 
2005  34.6  34.0  33.6  31.7  28.9  28.8  29.1  27.5  25.9  25.6  25.0  23.0 
2006  20.8  18.7  17.4  17.1  17.4  16.4  15.3  15.6  15.6  14.2  12.7  12.1 
2007  12.0  11.6  10.8   9.9   8.7   7.7   7.0   6.1   5.9   6.1   5.8e  5.3e
2008   4.8e  4.6e  4.7e  5.2e  5.8e  6.1e  6.3e  7.1e  7.6e  8.3e  9.2   9.6 
2009  10.7  11.9  13.4  14.7  16.3  18.1  20.2  22.6  25.2  29.6  34.5  39.8 
2010  44.2  48.8  53.8  59.4  64.5  68.8  72.8  79.0  85.5  91.3  94.7  98.0 
2011 101.4 105.2 109.1 112.6 116.6 120.2 122.4 125.4 127.1 127.9 129.2 130.9 
2012 131.8 133.9 134.7 134.7 133.9 131.8 131.3 130.0 130.0 129.6 129.6 130.0 
2013 130.0 129.2 129.2 127.9 125.0 122.0 119.3 116.6 113.5 110.0 107.7 105.7 
2014 104.1 102.2 100.1  97.4  94.3  89.3  84.2  79.4  76.3  73.5  70.9  68.5 
2015  66.0  63.2  60.1  57.7  56.0  55.2  54.3  53.1  51.4  49.1  46.4  43.6 
2016  41.3  39.4  37.5  35.3  33.0  30.9  29.2  27.9  26.6  25.3  23.9  22.8 
2017  21.8  21.1  20.6  20.0  19.3  18.2  17.3  16.8  16.5  15.9  14.9  14.2 
2018  14.1  14.3  14.3  14.0  14.0  14.2  14.2  14.1  14.1  14.0  13.6  12.9 
============================================================================

-----------------  EQUIVALENT 10.7 CM SOLAR RADIO FLUX ---------------------
Year   Jan   Feb   Mar   Apr   May   Jun   Jul   Aug   Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 162.2 166.2 169.4 170.3 168.3 168.1 169.2 168.0 165.6 163.7 161.9 161.2 
2001 157.8 153.0 153.7 156.6 157.7 158.9 160.8 162.8 163.3 163.2 164.8 163.9 
2002 162.7 163.9 162.5 159.6 157.9 155.2 151.6 147.6 143.4 139.3 134.1 131.0 
2003 129.9 127.6 123.4 119.7 117.4 114.9 112.0 110.4 109.9 108.7 107.4 105.6 
2004 103.2 100.8  98.9  97.6  96.2  94.4  93.3  92.5  91.2  89.9  89.5  89.4 
2005  88.9  88.4  88.1  86.7  84.7  84.6  84.8  83.6  82.5  82.3  81.9  80.5 
2006  79.0  77.6  76.8  76.7  76.8  76.2  75.5  75.7  75.7  74.8  73.9  73.6 
2007  73.5  73.3  72.8  72.3  71.6  71.0  70.6  70.1  70.1  70.1  70.0e 69.7e
2008  69.5e 69.4e 69.4e 69.6e 70.0e 70.1e 70.3e 70.7e 71.0e 71.4e 71.9  72.1 
2009  72.7  73.4  74.3  75.1  76.1  77.3  78.6  80.2  82.0  85.2  88.8  92.9 
2010  96.5 100.3 104.6 109.6 114.2 118.2 122.0 128.0 134.3 140.1 143.5 146.9 
2011 150.3 154.2 158.2 161.8 165.9 169.6 171.8 174.9 176.6 177.4 178.8 180.5 
2012 181.4 183.5 184.3 184.3 183.5 181.4 180.9 179.6 179.6 179.2 179.2 179.6 
2013 179.6 178.8 178.8 177.4 174.5 171.4 168.6 165.9 162.7 159.1 156.8 154.7 
2014 153.1 151.1 149.0 146.3 143.1 138.1 133.1 128.4 125.3 122.7 120.2 117.9 
2015 115.6 113.0 110.2 108.1 106.5 105.8 105.1 104.0 102.5 100.6  98.3  96.0 
2016  94.1  92.6  91.1  89.4  87.7  86.1  84.9  83.9  83.0  82.1  81.1  80.4 
2017  79.7  79.2  78.9  78.5  78.0  77.3  76.8  76.4  76.2  75.9  75.2  74.8 
2018  74.8  74.9  74.9  74.7  74.7  74.8  74.8  74.8  74.8  74.7  74.5  74.0 
============================================================================
This page is updated monthly using observed monthly sunspot numbers from
the Solar Influences Data Analysis Center (http://sidc.oma.be).  Monthly
values are smoothed using a 13 monthly running filter and, where needed,
combined with a predicted sunspot number curve for Cycle 24. Values
which have an "e" next to them are based partly on observed and partly on
predicted values.  Values earlier in time to these are based entirely on
observed valued; values later in time are entirely predicted.  Observed
data are adjusted slightly at times to use the SIDC final monthly values
which are available several months later - SIDC preliminary monthly values
are used up to this time.
 
All Solar Radio Flux values, including the "observed" values, are
obtained from sunspot numbers using a statistical conversion.  They are
best described as equivalent solar flux values.
 
Prepared on behalf of the International Space Environment Service by
the Australian Space Forecast Centre, IPS Radio and Space Services. This
product is issued in the first few days of each month and is available
on the IPS Mailing List Server - http://www.ips.gov.au/mailman/listinfo/
For more information please contact the centre at asfc@ips.gov.au
PLEASE NOTE: The technique used to make these predictions was changed
for the predictions issued from early November 2003.  The revised technique
is more appropriate to the situation of a declining solar cycle
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Last updated 15 May 2008 14:03 UT

                 OBSERVED MONTHLY SUNSPOT NUMBERS
1995  24.2  29.9  31.1  14.0  14.5  15.6  14.5  14.3  11.8  21.1   9.0  10.0
1996  11.5   4.4   9.2   4.8   5.5  11.8   8.2  14.4   1.6   0.9  17.9  13.3
1997   5.7   7.6   8.7  15.5  18.5  12.7  10.4  24.4  51.3  22.8  39.0  41.2
1998  31.9  40.3  54.8  53.4  56.3  70.7  66.6  92.2  92.9  55.5  74.0  81.9
1999  62.0  66.3  68.8  63.7 106.4 137.7 113.5  93.7  71.5 116.7 133.2  84.6
2000  90.1 112.9 138.5 125.5 121.6 125.5 170.1 130.5 109.7  99.4 106.8 104.4
2001  95.6  80.6 113.5 107.7  96.6 134.0  81.8 106.4 150.7 125.5 106.5 132.2
2002 114.1 107.4  98.4 120.7 120.8  88.3  99.6 116.4 109.6  97.5  95.0  81.6
2003  79.5  46.2  61.5  60.0  55.2  77.4  85.0  72.7  48.8  65.6  67.2  47.0
2004  37.2  46.0  48.9  39.3  41.5  43.2  51.0  40.9  27.7  48.4  43.7  17.9
2005  31.3  29.2  24.5  24.4  42.6  39.6  39.9  36.4  22.1   8.5  18.0  41.2
2006  15.4   5.0  10.8  30.2  22.2  13.9  12.2  12.9  14.5  10.4  21.5  13.6
2007  16.9  10.6   4.8   3.7  11.7  12.0  10.0   6.2   2.4   0.9   1.7  10.1
2008   3.4   2.1   9.3   2.9

For many purposes it is important to estimate the value of the sunspot number up to a solar cycle in advance. For example, in planning High Frequency (HF) communication links, before making investment decisions, it is important to estimate what frequencies will be able to be supported by the ionosphere in the future. Predictions of sunspot number are also very important in planning space-related activities and NASA are very interested in such predictions.

In more detail, the table below shows observed sunspot numbers (12 month smoothed) from 1995, followed by predicted values up to the year 2009. The values listed in the table with a qualifier "e" means that the value is based partly on observed and partly on predicted values. Values in the table earlier than these values are totally observed; later values are totally predicted.

IPS also has a mailing list by which you can receive updated sunspot number predictions each month. To subscribe to this mailing list click here

Below is a graph of sunspot numbers:

Graph of Sunspot Numbers

Last updated 15 May 2008 14:03 UT

                         FORECAST SOLAR CYCLE 24
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cycle  Sol. Min    Sol. Max  Max SSN     Length     Rise to Max     Max to End
       Year Mth    Year Mth             Yr   Mth    Year    Mth     Year   Mth
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24     2008 Oct    2012 Apr   134.7     10.8 129     3.5    42      7.3    87

Description of Prediction Technique
The prediction is based on the average of the last 8 solar cycles
(Cycles 15 to 23). IPS will adjust this average cycle as the new cycle
unfolds. To do this IPS has developed software for manipulating this
predicted cycle. The difficulty is ensuring that adjustments are not
made for short term variation, only for longer term cycle variation.


A solar cycle viewing tool (zip file) is available for ftp download here.



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