[NZ4O Spaceweather] >(10+0) Energetic Proton Flux Storm

[Thomas F. Giella NZ4O]

A solar cycle 24 second occurrence.

A >(10+0) energetic proton flux storm is underway, having begun around 2300 
UTC on Monday March 7th. Energetic proton flux storms
create increased D Layer RF signal absorption on 160 and 80 meters on paths 
at high latitudes (polar cap absorption).

Polar cap absorption is an anomalous condition of the polar ionosphere 
whereby medium frequency (300-3000 kc) radio waves are absorbed, and LF and
VLF (3-300 kHz) radio waves are wave guided at lower altitudes than normal. 
In practice, the absorption is inferred from the proton flux at energies
greater than 10 MeV (>10+0), so that PCA's, polar radio blackouts and proton 
events are interrelated and often simultaneous.

73 & GUD DX,
Thomas F. Giella, NZ4O
Lakeland, FL, USA
nz4o at tampabay.rr.com

NZ4O Amateur & SWL Autobiography: http://www.nz4o.org
NZ4O Solar Space Weather & Geomagnetic Data Archive: 
http://www.solarcycle24data.org
NZ4O HF/6M Radiowave Propagation Forecast: http://www.solarcycle24.org