[NZ4O Spaceweather] Daily Discussion Of Solar Space & Geomagnetic Weather Conditions

[Thomas F Giella NZ4O]

1.) DISCUSSION OF SOLAR, SPACE & GEOMAGNETIC WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT CAN 
IMPACT MF & HF RADIO WAVE PROPAGATION IN A NEGATIVE MANNER-
For the 16th day in the row the daily sunspot number has languished below 
100, currently at 89. However on the bright side the daily SSN has increased 
for 5 days in a row.

The Earth continues to be in a moderate solar wind stream at 1300 UTC (solar 
wind speed 498.0 km/sec) from two geo effective (Earth facing) Coronal Holes 
(#539 & 540). At 1300 UTC the Boulder, CO K index was at a 5, which is minor 
geomagnetic storming. It has been so for the past 9 hours. The global K 
index is also at a 5,which is minor geomagnetic storming. It has been so for 
the past 6 hours. This is at times reduce the maximum useable frequency 
(MUF) below the 10 and 12 meter bands, especially on east-west paths at high 
and mid latitudes.

There are no other significant impediments to good radio wave propagation on 
the HF bands as far as solar, space and geomagnetic weather. However the 
daily sunspot number needs to be higher than the present 89, as the higher 
the sunspot number (150 & >) the more ultraviolet light available to 
increase ionization in the F/F2 layer, for more consistent east-west radio 
wave propagation openings on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters.

On the medium frequency (MF) bands there is the normal absorption of RF 
signals in the D layer due to incoming cosmic rays and hard x-rays. Also the 
background x-ray flux is running in the B range so there is some additional 
minor absorption of RF signals in the D layer. And last but not least there 
is RF signal absorption via the E layer on high and mid latitude propagation 
paths due to the ongoing minor geomagnetic storming (K-5).



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

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