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Current Conditions

Forecast

 
At this time, the data on this page is not being kept current. 
 
Data on the Website labeled with terms that indicate that it is being automatically updated IS current. 
That data is updated on a schedule that varies from 1-minute to 3-hours. The update interval will appear with the label. 
The data below includes the values normally needed for HF propagation programs commonly used by propagation forecasters. Data is supplied for
this example so that the reader can get an idea of how current data will be formatted
bullet 
Boulder K-Index =2
bullet 
Estimated Kp-Index =2
bullet 
Estimated Ap-Index = 08
bullet 
Aurora = 02  Further information
bullet 
Protons =2.1E-1
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X-ray = A6.2
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Current Sunspot Number (SSN) = 53
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Effective SSN = 26
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90-Day SSN = 43
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Current Solar Flux  Index = 85 (This is the F10.7cm - Index ; the traditional "Solar Index" and "Radio Flux"
bullet 
The 90-Day Solar Flux Index = 86
 
The Solar Wind Speed is  448 km/sec           Bz =  -1 nT   Density = 1.0 p/cc
bullet 
Calculated 
   Magnetopause Stand Off Distance  =   14.8 Re
   Solar Wind Dynamic Pressure Dp =   0.17 nPa

 
Solar2000, E-Index    E10.7 cm  - Index = 83.7      on 09 May 2006 at  14:10 UTC 
Additional information on the E10.7 cm - Index and the Solar 2000 program.
 Additional information on the E-Index
  
"Input proxies the Penticton 10.7 cm Flux and the MgII index. The input proxies are updated at approximately 
01:00, 18:00, and 20:00 UTC with hourly values based on a interpolated spline estimate. Software usedSspaceWx:"
 
Operational Data Source: SOLAR2000 OPERATIONAL GRADE V1.24/256D5D (FGen 1X. The Software developer
and Chief Scientist is W. Kent Tobiska; Space Environment Technologies/SpaceWx
 
 
The E - Index is a relatively new index that indicates solar intensity.  The index indicates solar intensity over a wide area 
of the electromagnetic spectrum. The Solar2000 program used to generate the "E" index
compiles data extending from the radio irradiance ( 3000 KHz - 30 MHz ) portion of the spectrum through 
the X-ray spectrum. Additional details are available on the Web Site. Additional information on the E-Index
 is being added to the Web Site. View the E-Index page.
This index is published by the Space Environment Center (SEC) as well as the originator of the
Solar2000 model. SEC furnishes all of the space weather data for NOAA and most of the space
weather parameter values for the international space weather community.
 
The "E10.7 cm - Index" value may be directly substituted for the traditional "F10.7 cm - Index" in all
propagation modeling programs.
bullet 
We feel that a good starting point to obtain explanations of most of the above measurements is the Web Site's
Sunspot Counting Page.
bullet 
Additional information on the E-Index and Solar 2000 program is located on the E-Index page.
 
        
Above data Courtesy of  NOAA / SEC ; and the SOHO Great Observatory;
E - Index data from Solar 2000 computer program
Solar Wind Data NASA / ACE Satellite
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Parameters of the Solar Wind for the past 24-hours. Data from ACE Satellite

 

The Bz Parameter

In Answer to a reader's recent question of  "how does Bz fit into propagation forecasts?"

ANSWER

Bz has little or no use in medium or long range  forecasts of propagation.  Bz indicates the direction of the north - south component of the Sun's Interplanetary Magnetic Field ( IMF ).  Bz's value gives the direction the solar wind is pointing and the intensity of the solar wind -  NOW.

When one considers that the Sun's Interplanetary Magnetic Field ( IMF ) can go from pointing in one direction to pointing in another direction ( in terms of Bz ) in a mater of a few minutes  - along with the extreme variation in Bz values,  one can see that Bz is not predictable.  Bz may not be representative of a smooth flow of the main solar wind stream. 

The value for Bz is not used in any of the formulas that we use for predicting HF conditions from 1-hour out to 72-hours. Bz can give an indication concerning the stability of Earth's magnetic field for the past 24-hours to the present time. Bz is primarily a 15-minute by 15- minute  measurement used to describe, in part, Earth's magnetic field .

The topic of Bz and the portion and nature of the Solar Wind Stream related to  Bz  is explored on a page called Conjecture.