SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP019
ARLP019 The ARRL Solar Report
ZCZC AP19
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 19 ARLP019
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT May 23, 2025
To all radio amateurs
SB PROP ARL ARLP019
ARLP019 The ARRL Solar Report
Solar activity ranged from low to high. Region 4087 produced the strongest
event of the period, an impulsive R3 flare on May 14 at 0825 UTC near the NE
limb. The region also produced R2 flares at 0325 and 1119 UTC. Finally, three
R1 events were produced by the region on May 14 and 15. Region 4086 also
produced an R3 event, with a flare observed on May 13 at 1538 UTC.
No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. However, a weak
enhancement, which peaked below the S1 threshold, was observed on May 13
following the R3 event from Region 4086.
Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels on May 12 and 13. Late on May
16, enhancements in solar wind parameters, associated with the onset of a
positive polarity CH HSS and possible influence from the southern periphery
of the CME that left the Sun on May 12, increased activity to active levels.
Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity May 19 - June 14 2025:
Solar activity is expected to be at low levels, with a chance for R1-R2
(minor-moderate) events, over the outlook period.
No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.
The remainder of the outlook period is expected to be at normal to moderate
levels.
Geomagnetic field activity is likely to be elevated above quiet levels for
most of the next 27 days due to multiple, recurrent, coronal hole features.
G2 (moderate) conditions are likely on May 29 and June 13;
G1 (minor) conditions likely on May 19, May 28, and June 14;
active conditions are likely on May 30 - June 01, and June 10; unsettled
levels are likely on May 20-23, May 27, June 02-07, and June 11-12. Quiet
conditions are expected for the few
remaining days of the outlook period.
Weekly Commentary on the Sun, the Magnetosphere, and the Earth's Ionosphere -
May 22, 2025, from F. K. Janda, OK1HH.
Compared
to previous months, there was a significant decrease in solar activity in
May. For example, on May 2, there were only two groups of spots on the entire
solar disk observed. After that, spot activity in the northern half
of the solar disk increased slightly, but solar flux dropped significantly
during the second third of the month. Additionally, a large coronal hole
appeared in the southern hemisphere of the sun. Although this coronal hole
was observed during previous rotations in March and April, it is much larger
this time.
Consistent with this observation, after geomagnetic activity quieted down at
the end of April, we experienced several days of strong geomagnetic
disturbances in the first third of May. Starting in the second third of May,
the solar flux dropped significantly, reaching values not seen since October
2024.
The combination of low solar activity and high geomagnetic activity resulted
in a significant deterioration of ionospheric shortwave propagation
conditions, manifested by a drop in the critical frequencies of the F2 layer
and an increase in attenuation and scattering. This occurred especially on
May 7-12 and May 14-18, and is likely to continue in the coming days.
The latest attempts to forecast further developments suggest that conditions
should improve by the end of May. The summer ionosphere of the northern
hemisphere of Earth is characterized by lower maximal frequencies and higher
lows, not counting the sporadic layer E surprises.
The Predicted Planetary A Index for May 24 to 30 is 6, 5, 5, 8, 25, 30, and
20, with a mean of 14.1. The Predicted Planetary K Index is 2, 2, 2, 3, 5, 6,
and 4, with a mean of 3.4. 10.7 centimeter flux is 120, 120, 120, 130, 135,
135, and 140, with a mean of 128.5.
For
more information concerning shortwave radio propagation, see
www.arrl.org/propagation [
http://www.arrl.org/propagation?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL] and the ARRL Technical Information Service web
page at, www.a rrl.org/propagation-of-rf-signals. For an explanation of
numbers used in this bulletin, see
www.arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere [
http://arrl.org/the-sun-the-earth-the-ionosphere ] . Information and
tutorials on propagation can be found at:
http://k9la.us [
http://k9la.us/ ]
.
Also, check: "Understanding Solar Indices" from September 2002 QST:
https://bit.ly/3Rc8Njt [
https://bit.ly/3Rc8Njt ]
NNNN
/EX
ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio(R)
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ARLP019 The ARRL Solar Report