K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Our recent reporting week (December 6 - 12) had sunspots on 5 of the 7 days, with an average daily sunspot number of 9.7 — up from 2.3 from the previous 7 days. The average daily solar flux rose from 68.9 to 70.7. Geomagnetic indices were moderate, with the average daily planetary A index increasing from 7 to 8, and the mid-latitude A index rising from 4.9 to 6.4.

The predicted solar flux over the next 45 days is 70 on December 13 - 20; 68 on December 21 - 22; 70 on December 23 - January 4; 68 on January 5 - 18, and 70 on January 19 - 26.

The predicted planetary A index is 5 on December 13 - 27; then 8, 12, 10, and 8 on December 28 - 31; 5 on January 1 - 2; 10 on January 3 - 4; 8 on January 5 - 6; 5 on January 7; 8 on January 8 - 9; 5 on January 10 - 12; 8 on January 13 - 14; 5 on January 15 - 23, and 8, 12, and 10 on January 24 - 26.

On December 11, N0JK reported from Kansas on the ARRL 10 Meter Contest:

“Much better conditions this year than last. On Saturday afternoon, had E-skip to W4 and W5, which allowed links on to F2/TEP propagation to South America. Running just 5 W, I logged CE, CX, LU, and PY stations via Es link. Double hop Es to HK, P4 and PJ2. Single hop Es to W4 and W5.

“Sunday the band conditions not nearly as good, but I see the northeast states had strong Es to Florida. This in turn allowed them to link on to South America. Also strong single-hop Es along west coast.

“Had some weak Es in Kansas, heard CO8RH, but he faded out while I was fiddling with my hand key. I was able to work 9Z4Y on 10-meter CW.”

Sunspot numbers for December 6 - 12 were 17, 16, 12, 12, 0, 11, and 0, with a mean of 9.7. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 69.7, 70.1, 70.5, 71.6, 71, 71, and 70.8, with a mean of 70.7. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 10, 10, 9, 11, 7, and 4, with a mean of 8. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 8, 10, 6, 8, 7, and 3, with a mean of 6.4.

TNX ARRL