‰ Now 18 WPM transition file follows ‰

As soon as sunspot 1041 went over the horizon at the end of January,
sunspot 1043 emerged, high in our Suns northern hemisphere.  Average
daily sunspot number this week fell over 13 points to 14R6, and
average daily solar flux declined nearly 7 points to 75.
Geomagnetic activity was up, and the average daily planetary A index
rose 2 points to 5R1.  Average daily sunspot number for January was
21R3, and the 3 month trailing average, centered on December, was
approximately 15R2.  Like last month, the average for the month
greater than the 3 month average centered on the previous month is a
good trend.  The difference between the monthly average sunspot
number and the trailing 3 month average has been positive since
September.  The difference for November, December and January was
0R6, 5R5 and 6R2.  For 2009, the 3 month average centered on January
through December resolved to two digits beyond the decimal point was
2R19, 2R02, 1R49, 2R01, 4R23, 5R2, 4, 4, 4R64, 7R1, 10R16 and 15R15.
Predicted planetary A index for February 5 to 9 is 5, 10, 12, 12 and
5.  Predicted solar flux for those same days is 80, 82, 85, 88 and
90.  Geophysical Institute Prague sees quiet conditions February 5,
active February 6, quiet to unsettled February 7, quiet February 8,
active February 9, quiet to unsettled February 10 and 11.  We
received an interesting report recently from Peter Thulesen, OX3XR
in Greenland.  He writes, During the last 2 days on Tuesday February
2 and Wednesday February 3 we have in Nuuk observed shortwave
conditions quite different from what we normally are used to.  On
around 21 UTC Jan/OX3DB was listening to very weak PSK signals on
20m from a VK5 station. Suddenly the signals were very strong for a
short period where Jan worked the VK5 station. Thereafter the VK5
stations signals disappeared. Jan was not able to find out if the
VK5 station signals were short path or long path.  Later around 2200
to 0000 UTC quite heavy aurora activity was observed over Nuuk,
westcoast Greenland. On February 3 around 0100 UTC the aurora
observed from Nuuk area had changed from few rather strong green
bands to a wide area with weak green clouds covering the sky
overhead from south west to north east.  This evening the aurora
situation was the same as observed yesterday evening. The K index
shown on the NOAA web site is quite low here late Wednesday evening
and the aurora oval activity shows low activity, activity level on
or below 1. When the aurora and K index are that low I wonder what
causes the bad conditions observed here in Nuuk.  On both days we
have experienced the shortwave bands have been closing down very
quick within few minutes around 22 to 23 UTC.  For more information
concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information
Service web page.  For a detailed explanation of the numbers used in
this bulletin, see the k9la prop link off the TIS web page.  An
archive of past propagation bulletins is also available.  Monthly
propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas
locations are at the qst/propcharts link off the ARRL web page.
Sunspot numbers were 13, 12, 25, 14, 16, 11, and 11 with a mean of
14R6. 10R7 cm flux was 76R3, 73R3, 75, 75R3, 75R3, 75R2, and 74R4
with a mean of 75. Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 2, 4, 3, 6,
9 and 9 with a mean of 5R1.  Estimated mid latitude A indices were
2, 0, 3, 3, 7, 7 and 7 with a mean of 4R1‚

‰ End of 18 WPM transition file ‰