Current Space Weather VOACAP Quick Guide: Home

 

VOACAP SSNs for 2008

Below is the list of (near-)current sunspot numbers to be used with VOACAP. This list is manually updated on a regular basis. Consult the source for the latest numbers; new SSN predictions are now available!

JAN 10.9  JUL 20.5
FEB 12.1  AUG 23.1
MAR 13.2  SEP 25.9
APR 14.7  OCT 29.4
MAY 16.4  NOV 33.1
JUN 18.3  DEC 36.8

Source: ftp://ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov/STP/SOLAR_DATA/SUNSPOT_NUMBERS/sunspot.predict

Propagation tools to aid short-term prediction

Current Grayline

Real-Time Solar Wind   http://www.sec.noaa.gov/SWN/sw_dials.gif, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Space Environment Center

Magnetogram: State of Earth's Magnetic Field

Variations in Earth's magnetic field are measured by magnetometers. Any strong and sudden variations (up or down) in the X component (red) are indications of VHF radio-auroral activity (e.g. on 144 MHz when variations suddenly peak, say, 300 nT).

http://sgodata.sgo.fi/pub_mag/Realtime/magrtday.gif, Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory

Real-Time K-Index

A 3-hourly index of geomagnetic activity expressed in the logarithmic units on a scale from 0 to 9.

http://geo.phys.uit.no/knum/k_tro.gif, Tromsø Geophysical Observatory

X-Ray Flux

Class M and X flares affect the sunlit area of the Earth, causing increased D-region absorption. Strong flares are source of Shortwave Fadeouts (SWF) and Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances (SID). Look for the 1-8 Angstrom graph (red).

Proton Flux

High-energy protons are guided into the polar cap by Earth's magnetic field. Strong proton bursts are source of Polar Cap Absorption (PCA), i.e. high D-region absorption on paths passing through the polar areas. A proton event is in progress if the red curve crosses the threshold (dotted white line) in the uppermost graph.