SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP052
ARLP052 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP52
QST de W1AW 
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 52 ARLP052
From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA December 29, 2023
To all radio amateurs 

SB PROP ARL ARLP052
ARLP052 Propagation de K7RA

The recent reporting week, December 21-27, saw counter-intuitive
solar numbers, with solar flux rising but sunspot numbers in
decline. This happens from time to time.

Average daily sunspot numbers declined from 137.4 to 114.4. Only
three new sunspot groups emerged, two on December 22, and one on
December 27. On Thursday, December 28 one more sunspot emerged and
the sunspot number increased from 78 to 83.

Average daily solar flux rose from 162.7 to 172.6.

Predicted solar flux over the next month is 145 on December 29-30,
140 on December 31 to January 1, 2024, 135 on January 2-4, 150 on
January 5-7, 155 on January 8-11, then 150, 155, 160, 170 and 175 on
January 12-16, 180 on January 17-21, then 170, 165, 162, 155 and 145
on January 22-26, then 140 on January 27-30, and 150 on January 31
to February 3.

Predicted planetary A index is 5, 10, 8, 16, and 8 on December 29
through January 2, 2024, then 5 on January 3-7, then 10, 10 and 8 on
January 8-10, then 5 on January 11-25, then 12, 10, 10 and 8 on
January 26-29, and 5 on January 30 through February 3.

Weekly Commentary on the Sun, the Magnetosphere, and the Earth's
Ionosphere, December 28, 2023 from F. K. Janda, OK1HH.

"There are active regions on the Sun that may not even be large, but
whose magnetic configuration points to the possibility of solar
flares, up to moderately important ones. CMEs are no exception, but
they may not hit the Earth at all.

"On December 24, three moderate-importance flares were observed. At
least one of them produced a CME. Based on measurements of its
velocity, the collision with Earth was predicted to December 27.
However, nothing happened, and despite the extension of the
prediction of the onset of the disturbance by a day, calm continued
on 28 December.
"For many days now there has been such a large active region on the
Sun's far side that it is affecting the vibration of the entire Sun.
In addition, it has been observed by NASA's Mars Perseverance rover
camera. While it is primarily designed to see if there is dust in
the air, it can see large sunspots and, most importantly, the sun's
far side is now visible from Mars.
"So we await the return of AR 3514, which will rise in the
northeastern solar disk shortly after the New Year. It will be a
significant contributor to the further rise in solar activity in the
days ahead. Furthermore, longer term forecasts are calling for high
solar activity in the second half of January. So perhaps we will
finally see an improvement in shortwave conditions."
Don't forget ARRL Straight Key Night is this weekend, for all of New
Years Day (UTC), so that starts at 4:00 PM Sunday here on the Left
Coast where I live. Operate CW in a casual event using your straight
key or semi-automatic bug.