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Topband: auroral zone and pmaps

To: <topband@contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: auroral zone and pmaps
From: btippett@alum.mit.edu (Bill Tippett)
Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 03:44:54 +0000
K9LA wrote:
>Those pmap pictures referenced by W4ZV, et al, only tell us where 
>visible aurora is likely to occur (low energy precipitating electrons). 

        That's not what NOAA says about the plots Carl...

http://www.sec.noaa.gov/pmap/UsePlots.html

                "How These Patterns Can Be Used

When displayed in geographic coordinates, the statistical patterns of 
auroral particle power input provide a "best-guess" estimate of the 
locations, geographic extents, and intensities of aurora at the time 
of the satellite pass that provided the estimate of auroral activity. 
Energetic auroral particles (primarily electrons) not only produce the 
visible aurora but also greatly influence the properties of the 
ionosphere and are connected with strong electrical currents (as much 
as several million amperes) that flow in the ionosphere and connect 
along the geomagnetic field to dynamo processes at high altitude in 
the magnetosphere. Thus, this same display provides a similar "best-guess"
estimate of the geographic locations that may be subject to geomagnetic
fluctuations that result from electrical currents flowing in the 
ionosphere, or the radio propagation paths that may be degraded because 
of increased absorption of the radio signal by the disturbed ionosphere."

                                                73,  Bill  W4ZV 


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