Topband: Solar Cycle 23 Update

[Bill Tippett]

Update from http://www.dxlc.com/solar/solcycle.html

"There is a high probability that sunspot maximum for cycle 23 was in April
2000. With the average international sunspot number for the last six months
(September 2000-February 2001) at 99.4, the extended solar maximum (defined
as including all months where the smoothed sunspot number is continuously
within 80% of the peak value) could be as short as 17-18 months - starting
with September 1999 and ending with February 2001. This is unusually short
as the extended solar maximum normally lasts 24-36 months. An interesting
comparison is with solar cycle 2 which peaked at 115, had an extended
maximum of only 18 months and lasted only 9 years. Should cycle 23 continue
to be fairly similar to cycle 2 in its development the next solar minimum
could occur as early as in 2005 and with cycle 24 peaking in 2009."

        If you loved Topband conditions in mid-February, you'll really love
them in a few years...I can't wait!

                                                        73,  Bill  W4ZV


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