Data Summary
Title: SWS Sunspot Numbers (1700 onwards)
Status: onGoing
Start Time: 1700-01-01
End Time: now
Geographical Extent (deg):
West: -180
East: 180
South: -90
North: 90
Data Details
Abstract
The SWS sunspot number tables are based on the observed (definitive and provisional) monthly mean sunspot numbers from WDC-SILSO, Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels (sidc.oma.be/silso/home). The observed values are smoothed using a 13 month running filter (the first and last values have half weighting). Estimated values have an "e" suffix and are calculated from observed monthly and predicted smoothed sunspot numbers. Observed smoothed values precede the estimated values, while predicted smoothed values follow the estimated values.
The 10.7 cm solar radio flux values, including the "observed" values, are obtained from sunspot numbers using a statistical conversion. They are therefore described as "equivalent" solar radio flux values.
SPECIAL NOTE
In June 2015, WDC-SILSO, Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, adjusted their original observed sunspot numbers (Version 1.0) to a Version 2.0 series in which the sunspot numbers are higher. In the Version 1.0 data series, some of the sunspot numbers were weighted. The new (Version 2.0) sunspot numbers are unweighted sunspot number counts (for more information see: www.sidc.be/silso/home). The Bureau of Meteorology SWS solar cycle prediction is now based on the Version 2.0 values. As a result of the WDC-SILSO recalibration, the observed monthly sunspot numbers are higher. This is also reflected in the tables of smoothed sunspot numbers and equivalent 10.7 cm solar flux and the solar cycle graph.
Data frequency :Daily figure;
Supplementary Information:
Documentation about sunspot number data format
[ http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Solar/1/6 ] and [http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Educational/2/3/1];
Sun and solar activity - general information : [ http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Educational/2/1 ];
About sunspots [ http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Educational/2/2 ];
Purpose:
Although the prediction of solar cycles is difficult, it has practical applications. For example, in planning High Frequency (HF) communication links it is important to estimate what frequencies will be supported by the ionosphere well into the future. Predictions of sunspot number are also very important in planning space-related activities particularly for low Earth orbiting spacecraft.
This sunspot number dataset supports the Bureau's Space Weather Services ( SWS ) Program.
Keywords:
(Type: theme)
- Sunspot Number
- DataType-Derived from Observations
- Space Weather
- The 10.7 cm solar radio flux values
- Smoothed sunspot numbers
- Observed sunspot numbers
Keywords:
(Type: theme; Thesaurus:
GCMD science keywords)
- Earth Science | Climate Indicators | Sun-Earth Interactions | Sunspot Activity
- Earth Science | Sun-Earth Interactions | Solar Activity | Sunspots
Keywords:
(Type: place)
- Earth's Solar System - sun
Citation Details
Title: SWS Sunspot Numbers (1700 onwards)
Resource Date:
2017-07-04T03:30:00
(creation)
Identifier:
Code: http://www.bom.gov.au/metadata/19115/ANZCW0503900484
Party To Be Cited:
Organisation: Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Role: originator
Credit: We are grateful to the WDC-SILSO, Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels and SWN for the Sunspot number data.
Point Of Contact For Dataset
Point Of Contact: WDC Manager, WDC manager; Space Weather Services, Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Email:
sws_wdc@bom.gov.au
Web: Bureau of Meteorology Space Weather Solar website [http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Solar/]
(WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link)
, Function: information
Custodian: WDC Manager, WDC manager; Space Weather Services, Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Owner: Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Data Extent
Extent Description: AUSTRALIA EXCLUDING EXTERNAL TERRITORIES
Geographical Extent (deg):
West Bound Longitude: -180
East Bound Longitude: 180
South Bound Latitude: -90
North Bound Latitude: 90
Temporal Extent:
Start Time: 1700-01-01
End Time: now
Description: 1700-01-01 to now
Dataset Constraints
Dataset Legal Constraints:
Use Constraints: copyright; otherRestrictions
Use Limitation:
The SWS sunspot number data has had very limited quality control.
Other Constraints:
DATA LICENCE:
Data resources freely available from the Bureau of Meteorology website and ftp site, which are described in this metadata record are licensed under the Bureau's "Default terms of use", which are explained at the following url [ http://www.bom.gov.au/other/copyright.shtml ].
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ATTRIBUTION: We request that attribution is "Australian Bureau of Meteorology (date), (Title), [ http://www.bom.gov.au/metadata/19115/ANZCW0503900484 ]; Downloaded from [url] on [date-of-download]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DISCLAIMER: Please refer to [ http://www.bom.gov.au/other/disclaimer.shtml ] for disclaimer details.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jump To Top
Data Information
Data Distribution Information
WDC-SILSO, Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, Sunspot Index and Long-term Solar Observations (SILSO). [http://www.sidc.be/silso/datafiles]
(WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link)
, Function: information
DownloadableData : Online viewer of real time sunspot number data. [http://www.sws.bom.gov.au/Solar/1/6]
(WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link)
, Function: download
SWS SOLAR CYCLE DISPLAY AND AVERAGE CYCLE PREDICTION TOOL and a README file. [ftp://ftp-out.sws.bom.gov.au/data/Solar/Solar%20Cycle/]
(WWW:DOWNLOAD-1.0-ftp--download)
, Function: download
Point of truth URL of this metadata record (19115) [http://www.bom.gov.au/metadata/19115/ANZCW0503900484]
(WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link)
, Function: information
Data Quality
Scope:
Level: dataset
Lineage:
Statement: The sunspot number data are processed data, and are uncalibrated.
Jump To Top
Metadata Information
Metadata Identifier: ANZCW0503900484
Hierarchy Level: dataset
Hierarchy Level Name: Data Asset Audit record