August 2013

Propagation Summary

Solar activity was low during the second half of July, apart from three C3 Solar flux events.  The first two occurred at 15, and 16 July, followed by a third event on 21^st July.  The Solar flux also reached high levels every day during this period.  The Geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to minor storm levels, peaking on 15 July, then unsettled to active conditions were observed from 20 July onwards.

Propagation Forecast up to 17 August 2013

Solar activity is expected to remain low with a chance for isolated minor radio blackout conditions throughout the period due to active region flare activity.  The Solar Flux is expected to be at high levels through 20 August, due to a Coronal Hole High Speed Stream.  The Geomagnetic Field is expected to be generally quiet to unsettled for the majority of the period with the exception of 9-11 August and 14-15 August due to a recurrent Coronal Hole High Speed Stream.  Weekly updates to this forecast are available at: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/weekly/WKHF.txt

The Sun's 2013 Solar Activity Peak Is Weakest in 100 Years

Though the sun is currently in the peak year of its 11-year solar weather cycle, our closest star has been rather quiet over all, scientists say.  This year's solar maximum is shaping up to be the weakest in 100 years and the next one could be even more quiescent, scientists said  "It's the smallest maximum we've seen in the Space Age," David Hathaway of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., told reporters in a teleconference.  The full article can be found at: http://www.space.com/21937-sun-solar-weather-peak-is-weak.html   (Via Mike Terry) 

Links to these articles and more can be found at: http://www.jameswelsh.org.uk