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4 March 2016
20160303 Week Rotation Today Rotation Week 20160305

NOAA Number McIntosh Class C-class M-class X-class

12506
12510
12512
12513

Hsx/Cso
Cro/Cro
Bxo/Bxo
Hsx/Hsx
MCEVOL
MCSTAT
NOAA
N/A 5 10
N/A 13 10
N/A 6 5
N/A 5 5
MCEVOL
MCSTAT
NOAA
N/A 3 1
N/A 2 1
N/A 1 1
N/A 3 1
MCEVOL
MCSTAT
NOAA
N/A 0 1
N/A 0 1
N/A 0 1
N/A 0 1

Solar Monitor's flare prediction system's probabilities are calculated using NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center data. There are two main methods, MCSTAT and MCEVOL, that use sunspot-group McIntosh classifications and Poisson statistics to calculate flaring probabilities valid for a 24-hr period*. The flaring probabilities are calculated using historical data from the periods 1969-1976 & 1988-1996 (MCSTAT) and 1988-2008 (MCEVOL).

MCSTAT – Uses point-in-time McIntosh classifications to calculate Poisson flaring probabilities. Details about the method [1] and forecast verification testing [2] can be found in the following papers:

[1] Gallagher, P. T., Moon, Y.-J., Wang, H., Solar Physics, 209, 171, (2002)
[2] Bloomfield et al., 2012, The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 747, L41

MCEVOL – Uses the evolution of McIntosh classifications over a 24-hr period to calculate Poisson flaring probabilities. Details about the method and flaring rate statistics can be found in the following:

[1] McCloskey, A.E., Gallagher, P.T. & Bloomfield, D.S., Solar Physics, 291, 1711, (2016)

Further Reading:
Wheatland, M. S., 2001, Solar Physics, 203, 87
Moon et al., 2001, Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics, 106(A12) 29951


Notes:

'...' = McIntosh class or evolution was not observed in the period over which the Poisson flare rate statistics were determined.
* When viewed in real-time and before 22:00 UT, NOAA predictions are valid up to 22:00 UT on the current date. When viewed in real-time after 22:00 UT (or when viewing past dates), NOAA predictions are valid up to 22:00 UT on the following date. The most recent data can also be found at NOAA's 3-day Space Weather Predictions page.


Please contact Peter Gallagher if you have any queries regarding this research.



Today's/Yesterday's NOAA Active Regions
NOAA Number
Latest
Position
Hale
Class
McIntosh Class
Sunspot Area
[millionths]
Number of Spots
Recent
Flares
12506 S07W72
(914",-79")
α/β Hsx/Cso 0070/0110 02/05 C1.1(08:28) / -
12510 N05E31
(-498",188")
β/β Cro/Cro 0030/0030 03/03 -
12512 N12E01
(-16",320")
β/β Bxo/Bxo 0020/0010 04/03 -
12513 N11E51
(-739",259")
α/α Hsx/Hsx 0030/0060 01/01 -
12508 N06W61
(842",159")
/ / / / -
12509 N09W40
(615",243")
/ / / / -
12511 N06E20
(-330",215")
/β /Bxo /0010 /03 -

Class (HH:MM) -Today
Class (HH:MM) -Yesterday

Events not associated with currently named NOAA regions: None

Note: The tabulated data are based on the most recent NOAA/USAF Active Region Summary issued on 4-Mar-2016 00:30 UT . The greyed out and light-blue entries are values from the previous day. Slashed cells indicate that the active region has no spots. The latest positions of the active regions are given in both heliographic and heliocentric co-ordinates. The region positions are valid on 4-Mar-2016 19:30 UT .