These charts on this page resemble the progress of the solar cycle. The charts are updated every month by the SWPC with the latest ISES predictions. Observed values are initially temporary values that are replaced with the final data once it is available. All the graphs on this page can be exported as JPG, PNG, PDF or SVG files. Every dataset can be toggled on or off by clicking on the corresponding description under each graph.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying Time. Data ranges from 2000-05-01 00:00:00 to 2030-12-01 00:00:00.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Sunspot number. Data ranges from 0 to 244.3.
End of interactive chart.
Solar Cycle progression - F10.7cm Radio Flux
Combination chart with 6 data series.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying Time. Data ranges from 1999-11-01 00:00:00 to 2030-12-01 00:00:00.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying 10.7cm Radio Flux (sfu). Data ranges from 65.7 to 245.6.
End of interactive chart.
Number of C, M and X-class solar flares per year
The graph below shows us the number of C, M and X-class solar flares that occur for any given year. It gives us a nice idea of the amount of solar flares in relation to the sunspot number. It is thus another way of seeing how a solar cycle evolved over time. This data comes from the NOAA SWPC and is updated daily.
Number of C-, M- and X-class flares
Combination chart with 4 data series.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 2 Y axes displaying Number of flares, and Average sunspot number.
End of interactive chart.
The graph below shows you the number of C, M and X-class solar flares that were produced during past month together with the sunspot number of each day. This gives you an idea of the solar activity during the past month. This data comes from the NOAA SWPC and is updated daily.
Number of C-, M- and X-class flares of last month
Combination chart with 4 data series.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying Time. Data ranges from 2025-04-24 00:00:00 to 2025-05-22 00:00:00.
The chart has 2 Y axes displaying Number of flares, and Sunspot number.
End of interactive chart.
The Butterfly Diagram
Throughout the solar cycle, the latitude of sunspot regions varies with an interesting pattern. The graph below shows the latitude of all sunspot regions of the last 22 years versus the time (in years). Sunspots are typically confined between -35° south and +35 degrees north latitude. At the beginning of a new solar cycle, sunspot regions are formed at a higher latitudes, but as the cycle progresses towards the maximum, the sunspot regions gradually form at lower latitudes. When nearing the solar minimum, the sunspot regions appear around the solar equator and as a new cycle starts again, sunspots of the new cycle will start to emerge at a high latitude. This recurrent behaviour of sunspots give rise to the 'Butterfly' pattern and was first discovered by Edward Maunder in 1904. The graph is updated every month.
Butterfly Diagram
Line chart with 0 data points.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying Time. Data ranges from 1970-01-01 00:00:00 to 1970-01-01 00:00:00.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Solar Latitude of the sunspot regions. Data ranges from -75 to 75.
End of interactive chart.
Number of spotless days per year
During periods of low solar activity, the Sun can be devoid of any sunspots and thus be spotless. This is a frequent occurrence in the years around and during solar minimum. The graph below shows how many days during a specific year that the earth-facing side of the Sun had no sunspots.
Spotless days
Bar chart with 29 bars.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying Time. Data ranges from 1997-01-01 00:00:00 to 2025-01-01 00:00:00.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Number of spotless days. Data ranges from 0 to 284.
End of interactive chart.
Number of days with a geomagnetic storm per year
The graph below shows the number of days with a geomagnetic storm per year and how strong those storms were. This will give you an idea in which years there were a lot of geomagnetic storms.
Number of days with a geomagnetic storm per year
Bar chart with 5 data series.
According to the finalized Kp-index of GFZ Potsdam
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying Days with geomagnetic storms >=Kp5. Data ranges from 2 to 164.
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