GB2RS News

Now the solar factual data for the period from the 22nd to the 28th of February, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 1st of March.

February saw sunspots visible every day of the month, a contrast from February last year when only 6 days saw sunspots visible. Despite sunspots visible every day during the period, solar activity remained at very low levels with no solar flares taking place. A large coronal mass ejection took place on the far side of the Sun on the 28th. Solar flux levels declined from 84 units on the 22nd to 78 by the 28th. The average was 82. The 90 day solar flux average on the 28th was 81 units, that’s one unit up on last week. X-ray flux levels declined from A7.6 units on the 23rd to A2.3 by the 28th and average was A5. Geomagnetic activity was quiet everyday and the average was Ap 2 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw solar wind speeds 290 and 410 kilometres per second. Particle densities were low throughout. Bz varied no more than minus and plus 6 nanoTeslas for the period.
And finally the solar forecast. This week solar activity is expected to be very low to low. Going on past rotational data there is a slight chance that activity could be moderate. Solar flux levels should be in the 80s for most of the week, but if any reasonably sized sunspot groups appear then levels could increase into the 90s. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be quiet everyday but next weekend could see activity increase due to a recurring coronal hole. MUFs during daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 25MHz for the south and 22MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about 8MHz. Paths this week to South America should have a maximum usable frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 29MHz. The optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be about 22MHz. the best time to try this path will be between 1200 and 1800UTC. Just a reminder that these paths are based on London, slight variations will take place from different locations around the UK.
And that’s all for this week from the propagation team.

The RSGB propagation news is also available in a Saturday update, posted every Saturday evening and for more on propagation generally, see http://www.rsgb.org/committees/psc.php

Also see the UK HF Propagation Prediction pages by Gwyn Williams, G4FKH