TopBand: RE: Poor 160M Condx

[Jon K. Jones]

I believe another factor in the recent "poor
160M condx" is sporadic E. Intense
E-layer ionization may completely absorb 
160M signals, much like auroral ionization
which also occurs in this region. These Es
clouds have a much higher critical frequency
than the 0.4-0.6 MHz Bob, NM7M notes for
the E region in general. Es tend to appear
more frequently during the sunspot minumum
with a minor seasonal peak from Nov. to Jan.
There has been many widespread Es openings
on 6  meters recently. 
73 and Season's Greetings,
Jon N0JK




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