‰ Now 18 WPM transition file follows ‰

More sunspots emerged this week, with every December day so far
showing spots.  In addition to the sunspot numbers listed through
Wednesday at the end of this bulletin, Thursday, December 6 had a
sunspot number of 29.  The daily sunspot number has not been this
high since mid July.  Two spots are now visible, 977 and 978, and
the total coverage of the solar surface by sunspots on Thursday is
four times Wednesdays coverage.  Average daily sunspot number for
this report is over twice last weeks, rising from 5R4 to 11R1.
Sunspots will probably continue until at least December 13.
Geomagnetic numbers have been extremely low, with average daily
planetary A index dropping from 8R7 to 2, and average mid latitude A
index declining from 6R3 to 1R1 for the week.  Check the quarterly
geomagnetic indices since October 1 on the web and note the
incredibly stable numbers, especially at high and mid latitudes,
around December 2 to 6.  You dont see strings of zeroes such as this
during the higher portions of the solar cycle, and it seems
perfectly timed with last weeks ARRL 160 meter contest.  Heightened
or unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions are not expected until
December 17.  Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions
December 7 to 9, quiet to unsettled December 10, unsettled December
11 and 12, and quiet to unsettled December 13.  This year weve been
tracking a 3 month moving average of daily sunspot numbers to help
spot trends that may indicate the bottom of the solar cycle.  The
average for September, October and November, centered on October, at
3 is the lowest yet for this side of Cycle 23.  This number was
derived by adding all daily sunspot numbers for those three months,
then dividing the sum, or 270, by the number of days, which is 91.
The result is approximately 2R967, very close to 3.  Monthly sunspot
number averages for this year, January through November, are 28R2,
17R3, 9R8, 6R9, 19R8, 20R7, 15R6, 9R9, 4R8, 1R3 and 2R9.  Octobers
average of 1R3 is lower than September and October of 1996, during
the minimum between Cycles 22 and 23.  The monthly averages for
August through November, 1996 were 20R7, 2R9, 2R3 and 25R6.  A new
table of predicted sunspot and solar flux values for Cycle 24 is in
this weeks Preliminary Report and Forecast of Geophysical Data on
pages 10 and 11, in the December 4 issue.  For the past few years
the prediction table showed no data beyond this month.  The table
now runs an additional eight years, through December 2015.  Sunspot
numbers were 0, 0, 13, 26, 13, 13 and 13 with a mean of 11R1.  10R7
cm flux was 71R2, 71R2, 71R9, 73, 72R6, 73R6, and 75R3 with a mean
of 72R7.  Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 2, 2, 2, 1, 2 and 2
with a mean of 2.  Estimated mid latitude A indices were 2, 1, 2, 2,
0, 0 and 1, with a mean of 1R1‚

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