| Item |
Element |
Description |
| SFI |
Solar Flux Index |
DRAO Penticton reported value from 62.5 to 300.
Intensity of solar radiation measured at 2800MHz (10.7cm). Good
indication of the F layer ionization (layer that gives us most of our
DX on HF). The higher the number, the greater the level of ionization
is, and the higher the frequency. Measured three times daily, and the
last received value is reported. Note that NOAA recorded SFI for the
day is the 2nd (or middle) of these readings, and may be different
than the last recorded reading displayed on the banners. SFI does
correlate to 304A (see graph below). |
| SN |
Sunspot Number |
NOAA reported value from 0 to 250. Daily Sunspot
Number provided by NOAA is computed using a formula [R=k (10g+s)] by
Rudolph Wolf in 1848, where R is the sunspot number; g is the number
of sunspot groups on the solar disk; s is the total number of
individual spots in all the groups; and k is a variable scaling factor
(usually <1) that accounts for observing conditions and the type of
observing device. SN does loosely correlate to SFI. Updated once
daily. |
| A |
Planetary A Index |
NOAA reported value from 0 to 400. Provides a daily
average level for geomagnetic activity. Uses the average of eight 3
hour K-Index values (magnetic value measured in nanotesla or nT) to
provide the level of instability in the earth’s geomagnetic field.
When used with K-Index: Both high indicates geomagnetic field is
unstable, and HF signals are prone to sudden fades, and some paths may
close while others open up abruptly and with little warning. High K
index/Low A indicates a sudden, abrupt disturbance in the geomagnetic
field, which can cause an intense but brief disruption in HF
propagation, but can cause an auroral event. Updated once daily. |
| K |
Planetary K Index |
NOAA reported value from 0 to 9. Measures
disturbances in the horizontal component of earth's magnetic field.
Value in nT is measured using a magnetometer during a three-hour
interval, and then converted to a factor. Use with A-Index – sees
above to determine HF conditions. Updated eight times daily. |
| X-Ray or XRY |
Hard X-Rays |
NOAA reported value from A0.0 to X9.9. Intensity of
hard x-rays hitting the earth’s ionosphere. Impacts primarily the
D-layer (HF absorption). The letter indicates the order of magnitude
of the X-rays (A, B, C, M and X), where A is the lowest. The number
further defines the level of radiation. Updated eight times daily. |
| 304A |
304 Angstroms |
NOAA reported value from 0 to unknown. Relative
strength of total solar radiation at a wavelength of 304 angstroms (or
30.4 nm), emitted primarily by ionized helium in the sun's
photosphere. Two measurements are available for this parameter, one
measured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, using the EVE instrument,
and the other, using data from the SOHO satellite, using its SEM
instrument. Responsible for about half of all the ionization of the F
layer in the ionosphere. 304A does correlate to SFI (see graph below).
Updated hourly. |
| Pnt Flx or PF |
Proton Flux |
NOAA reported value from 0 to unknown. Density of
charged protons in the solar wind. The higher the numbers, the more
the impact the ionosphere. Primarily impacts the E-Layer of the
ionosphere. Updated hourly. |
| Elc Flx or EF |
Electron Flux |
NOAA reported value from 0 to unknown. Density of
charged electrons in the solar wind. The higher the numbers
(>1000), the more the impact the ionosphere. Primarily impacts the
E-Layer of the ionosphere. Updated hourly. |
| Aur |
Aurora |
NOAA reported value from 0 to 10++. Indicates how
strong the F-Layer ionization is in the polar regions. Higher values
cause auroral events (including northern/southern lights) to move to
lower latitude. Updated hourly. |
| n |
Normalization |
NOAA reported value from 0 to 5. When <2.0, high
confidence in Aurora measurement. When >2, low confidence. Updated
hourly. |
| Bz |
Bz Component |
ACE Satellite reported value from +50 to -50.
Strength and direction of the interplanetary magnetic field as
impacted by solar activity. Positive is same direction as the earth's
magnetic field, and negative is the opposite magnetic polarity.
Cancels out earth’s magnetic field when negative, which increases
the impact of solar particles in the ionosphere. Updated hourly. |
| SW |
Solar Wind |
ACE Satellite reported value from 0 to 1000. Speed
(kilometers per second) of the charged particles as they pass earth.
The higher the speed, the greater the pressure is exerted on the
ionosphere. Values greater than 500 km/sec have impact on HF
communications. Updated hourly. |
| Aur Lat |
Aurora Latitude |
Calculated value from 67.5 to <45.0. Calculation
from NOAA utilizes the current Aurora measurement. Used to estimate
the lowest latitude impacted by the auroral event. Updated hourly. |
| Aur |
Aurora |
DX-Robot reported event (used with permission).
Reports Band Closed for No/Low Auroral activity, High LAT AUR for
Auroral activity >60°N, or MID LAT AUR for Auroral activity from
60° to 30°N. Updated every ½ hour. |
| EsEU |
Sporadic E Europe |
DX-Robot reported event (used with permission).
Reports Band Closed, High MUF when 2M only is open, or 50/70/144MHz ES
when the respective band is reported open. Updated every ½ hour. |
| EsNA |
Sporadic E North America |
DX-Robot reported event (used with permission).
Reports Band Closed, High MUF when conditions support Es, and 144MHz
ES when the band is reported open. Updated every ½ hour. |
| EME Deg |
Earth-Moon-Earth Degradation |
Make More Miles reported value (used with
permission). Reports EME path attenuation as Very Poor (>5.5dB),
Poor (4dB), Moderate (2.5dB), Good (1.5dB), Very Good (1dB), Excellent
(<1dB). Updated every ½ hour. |
| Solar Flare Prob |
Solar Flare Probability |
University of Bradford predicted value (used with
permission). Reports the probability (in %) of a solar flare within
the next 24 hours (0-100%). Updated every hour. |
| MUF |
Maximum Usable Frequency |
Make More Miles reported value (used with
permission). Provides the Maximum Usable Frequency in a colored bar.
Gray indicates No Sporadic E (ES) activity , blue indicates ES
reported @ 6M, green indicates ES reported @ 4M, yellow indicates
conditions support 2M ES, and red indicates reported @ 2M. Updated
every ½ hour. |
| MS |
Meteor Scatter Activity Bar |
Make More Miles reported value (used with
permission). Provides the Meteor Scatter activity in a colored bar.
Gray indicates no activity. See the color coded graph at the bottom of
the bar for activity level. Updated every 1/4 hour. |
| GeoMag Fld |
Geomagnetic Field |
Calculated value. Indicates how quiet or active the
earth's magnetic field is based on the K-Index value. Reports as
Inactive, Very Quite, Quiet, Unsettled, Active, Minor Storm, Major
Storm, Severe Storm, or Extreme Storm. Higher indications can cause HF
blackouts and auroral events. Updated every three hours. |
| Sig Noise Lvl |
Signal Noise Level |
Calculated value. Indicates how much noise (in
S-units) is being generated by interaction between the solar wind and
the geomagnetic activity. A more active and disturbed solar wind, the
greater the noise. Updated every ½ hour. |
| MUF
|
Maximum Usable Frequency |
NOAA reported value from 0 to 100MHz. Provides the
maximum usable frequency in MHz at one of 11 locations worldwide.
Updated every 15 minutes. |
| CME |
Coronal Mass Ejection |
NOAA/SWPC predicted date and time (in UTC). Provides
the date and time of a predicted earth bound CME event. Color coded
for severity, where green is minor, yellow is moderate, and red is
severe. Updated when predictions are received from NOAA/SWPC. |
