Paul L Herrman
    Sierra Vista, Arizona USA (DM41um)
    Solar Data and HF Propagation
    n0nbh@n0nbh.com

• For 3,000 kilometer radio signal single hop paths (Courtesy of K1TTT)
• Just click "NOW" (all settings are auto-populated).
• I resolve and populate your coordinates using your IP address. If not correct, just click your QTH location on map then click "NOW".
• Select desired mode/map/overlays. Key shows bands.
• Click "Next Hour" to advance, or enter desired UTC Date & Time, estimated SF/K/A Index, then click "Compute" for future predictions.

UTC:

• Converts SSN to SFI, or SFI to SSN. Useful for those programs that require one value, and you only have the other. Also fun to play around with!
• Remember, you are using a measured or observed value to calculate the other using a recognized formula, so the result most likely will not match the other measured value. The solar panel only uses measured/observed values from NOAA.

• Converts K-Index (from 0-9) to the K-Measurement Unit (in nanoTesla or nT) range, the expected HF signal noise level range in "S" units/dB, and the current Geomagnetic Field state
• You can also enter a specific K-nT value (from 0-999), or specific signal noise level in "S"/dB (0-60), or Geomagnetic Field of Quiet, UNSET, Active, or Storm (any case) to get the other values/ranges.
• Great for figuring out how noisy the bands are (impacts all bands)

Understanding/Using the Data and Images from the Sun

• Most of us understand the impacts of Solar Flux/Sun Spots have on HF communications, but some are unsure about the remaining data provided in the panel.
• I have created an easy to understand abbreviated table below that provides HF Propagation conditions based on the current Solar-Terrestrial Data. Factors provided include background X-Ray, Proton Flux, and K index (including the nT measurement), Solar Flux Index (SFI), Sunspots (SSN), Electron Flux, and Aurora.
• Because some items are better when high, and others low, I have color coded the blocks. Green is best contitions, yellow marginal, red unacceptable.
• A printable page (best using landscape) is also provided for ease of use in the shack. This single page easy to understand table is a must for any HF operator (with a memory as bad as mine has gotten).

Click for printable Solar events page

Current Solar-Terrestrial Data	Category	Radio Blackouts Use X-Ray	Solar Radiation Storms Use Proton Flux	Geomagnetic Storms Use K-Index/K-nT/Aurora	Band Openings Use Solar Flux (SSN)	Electron Alert * Use Electron Flux *
	Extreme	X20 (1 per cycle) Complete HF blackout on entire sunlit side lasting hours	1.0e+06 (1 per cycle) Complete HF blackout in polar regions	K=9 (nT=>500) [Aur=10] (4 per cycle) HF impossible-aurora to 40°. Noise S30+.	200-300 (SSN=160-250) Reliable communications all bands up through 6 meters	>1.0e+03 Alert * Impact HF primarly in the D region of ionisphere (160M-80M), but also effects the E and F layers.
	Severe	X10 (8 per cycle) HF blackout on most of sunlit side for 1 to 2 hours.	1.0e+05 (3 per cycle) Partial HF blackout in polar regions.	K=8 (nT=330-500) [Aur=9] (100 per cycle) HF sporadic-aurora to 45°. Noise S20-S30.
	Strong	X1 (175 per cycle) Wide area HF blackout for about an hour on sunlit side.	1.0e+04 (10 per cycle) Degraded HF propagation in polar regions.	K=7 (nT=200-330) [Aur=8] (200 per cycle) HF intermittent-aurora to 50°. Noise S9-S20.	150-200 (SSN=105-160) Excellent conditions all bands up through 10 meters w/6 meter openings
	Moderate	M5 (350 per cycle) Limited HF blackout on sunlit side for tens of minutes.	1.0e+03 (25 per cycle) Small effects on HF in polar regions.	K=6 (nT=120-200) [Aur=6] (600 per cycle) HF fade higher lats-aurora to 55°. Noise S6-S9.	120-150 (SSN=70-105) Fair to good conditions all bands up through 10 meters	<1.0e+03 Active Minor impacts to HF (160M-80M).
	Minor	M1 (2000 per cycle) Occasional loss of radio contact on sunlit side.	1.0e+02 (50 per cycle) Minor impacts on HF in polar regions.	K=5 (nT=70-120) [Aur=5] (1700 per cycle) HF fade higher lats-aurora to 60°. Noise S4-S6.	90-120 (SSN=35-70) Fair conditions all bands up through 15 meters	<1.0e+02 Active Minor impacts to HF (160M-80M).
	Elevated	C1 Moderate Flare Low absorption of HF signals.	1.0e+01 Active Very minor impacts on HF in polar regions.	K=3-4 (nT=20-70) [Aur=4] Unsettled/Active Minor HF fade higher lats. Noise S2-S3.	70-90 (SSN=10-35) Poor to fair conditions all bands up through 20 meters	<1.0e+01 Normal No impacts on HF.
	Normal	A1-B9 No/Small Flare No or very minor impact to HF signals.	1.0e+00 Normal No impacts on HF.	K=0-2 (nT=0-20) [Aur=<3] Normal No impacts on HF. Noise S0-S2.	64-70 (SSN=0-10) Bands above 40 meters unusable	<1.0e+00 Normal No impacts on HF.
* Even though the Electron Belt is farthest out in space, Electron Flux has a the largest impact on the lowest layer in the ionosphere. Primarily impacts satellite comms.    Extreme levels can impact cable systems, power grids, blow up power transformers, and cause (as research indicates) increased geological activity (e.g., earthquakes, volcanos, etc.    See D-Region Absorption Prediction page for current impacted frequencies in the D-Region. Aurora Normalization factor (n) <2.0=high confidence, >2.0=low confidence.

• Other than just choosing your favorite color for the image displayed in the Solar data panel, what are we actually seeing when we observe the various solar images? I was fascinated by the results - so I decided to share them with you as they don't seem to be explained in one location anywhere.
• 1st some definitions and symbols:
• EIT = SOHO's Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Imaging Telescope is the device providing the images of the solar transition region and inner corona in four selected bandpasses in the EUV spectrum.
• MDI = Michelson Doppler Imager measures underlying magnetic fields and gas flow patterns on the solar surface.
• VSM = Vector Spectromagnetograph provides magnetic field observations in the photosphere and chromosphere.
• SH = Spectroheliograph provides a photographic image of the Sun's visible surface in light of a single wavelength on the solar surface.
• Angstrom (Å) is the internationally recognized unit of length equal to 0.1 nanometer (about the size of an atom). It also is the number of the EIT image.
• Kelvin (K) is a thermodynamic (absolute) temperature scale referenced to absolute zero (0ºK).
• Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Calcium (Ca), and Helium (He) are the ionized elements (or spectral lines) that produce the EUV/Visible light we are looking at.
• Next, the parts of the sun:
• Photosphere is the Sun's visual surface, with temperatures around 4k - 6kºK.
• Chromosphere is a thin layer of the Sun's atmosphere just above the photosphere, roughly 2,000 kilometers deep and primarily hydrogen, with temperatures around 4k - 20kºK.
• Solar transition region is a region of the Sun's atmosphere, between the chromosphere and corona. Below this region, helium is not fully ionized. Above this region it is fully ionized, with temperatures 60k- 80kºK.

Corona is the plasma "atmosphere" of the Sun. The high temperature of the corona gives it unusual spectral features traced to highly ionized Iron, with temperatures in excess of 1MºK. Prominence is a large, bright loop, spray, or surge extending outward from the Sun's surface. They are anchored to the photosphere, and extend outwards into the corona, but are much cooler plasma about 10kºK. Solar flare is a large explosion in the Sun's atmosphere that affect all solar layers, heating plasma to tens of millionsºK. Sunspots are concentrations of magnetic flux (0.4 to >1.0 tesla) in the photosphere, typically 2.5 - 50 km across, and appear dark because it is 1.5k - 2.5kºK cooler than the surrounding area.

• Putting it all together, the table below shows each image that you can display in the image solar panels, with an explanation of each of the elements and characteristics.

Image	Å nm image	Element & Ionization	TempºK TempºC TempºF	Best used to see	Image	Å nm image	Element & Ionization	TempºK TempºC TempºF	Best used to see
	171 Å 17.1 nm eit171	Iron (Fe) 8-9 times ionized	1,000,000ºK 999,727ºC 1,799,540ºF	Transition-region, sunspots, low temperature loops		195 Å 19.5 nm eit195	Iron (Fe) 11 times ionized	1,500,000ºK 1,499,727ºC 2,699,540ºF	Transition-region, sunspots, corona, flares
	284 Å 28.4 nm eit284	Iron (Fe) 14 times ionized	2,000,000ºK 1,999,727ºC 3,599,540ºF	Transition-region, sunspots, corona, high temperature loops		304 Å 30.4 nm eit304	Helium (He) 1 times ionized	80,000ºK 79,727ºC 143,540ºF	Chromosphere, transition-region, Prominence, sunspots
	6302 Å 630.2 nm vsm1	Iron (Fe) 0 times ionized	5,800ºK 5,527ºC 9,980ºF	Photosphere, sunspots		6767 Å 676.7 nm mdi	Nickel (Ni) 0 times ionized	6,000ºK 5727ºC 10,340ºF	Photosphere
	8542 Å 854.2 nm vsm2	Calcium (Ca) 1 times ionized	10,000ºK 9,727ºC 17,540ºF	Photosphere, Chromosphere, sunspots		10830 Å 1083 nm sh	Helium (He) 0 times ionized	20,000ºK 19,727ºC 35,540ºF	Chromosphere, transition-region, sunspots

Current HF Propagation Conditions

f0F2 Critical Frequency, T-Index, & HF Fade

• Courtesy of Australian Space Weather Agency
• Select desired plot from box. Page refresh updates all images at once.

• Courtesy of Rice University
• Select desired item from box. Page refresh updates all images at once.
• On the dial background color schemes, green indicates that values in this range are unlikely to disturb the near-Earth space environment. Yellow indicates that values in this range may contribute to disturbances, and Red indicates that values in this range are likely to drive disturbances. This scheme is valid for all dials except the "Log[Beta]" dial
.

• Courtesy of Solar Terrestrial Dispatch
• Select desired plot from box. Page refresh updates all images at once.

MUF Map Critical f2 Map 5MHz Absrptn Map 10MHz Absrptn Map 15MHz Absrptn Map 20MHz Absrptn Map 25MHz Absrptn Map 30MHz Absrptn Map F2-Layer Height Solar Zenith Angle

• All space and solar related data and images update every 60 minutes. Click to view SOHO Home Page
• Just click on the link below the image to open the corresponding animated gif or mpg file (mpgs are smaller) to show the image in elapsed time. The gif files are LARGE - some 30M - but are pretty cool looking.

Current_eit_304	Current_c2	Current_eit_284	Current_c3
Animated gif	Animated gif	Animated gif	Animated gif
Movie mpg	Movie mpg	Movie mpg	Movie mpg

Current Solar Wind		Current Northern Auroral		Current Southern Auroral

• Select desired plot from box. Refresh page updates all images.

Displaying Solar-Terrestrial Data Panels on your site, computer, or other personal device

Add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your Website

• The solar image banner is available with eight different current solar banners, two with VHF Conditions, and two with current solar images that are selectable. Four banners are available in four background colors and corresponding text colors, and also support transparent backgrounds. the four with VHF and solar images do not support background or transparent.
• Cut and Paste the following html into your web page at the location you want the current Solar-Terrestrial Data to appear. There are a number of choices that select panels have, as indicated in the table below.
• To select other than a non-transparent black background for those that indicate background and transparent, modify the php text as follows:
• Choose a background color - available in black, orange, blue, or white (spelling and case important). Command is ?bgcolor=
• Decide if you want the background transparent - remember you still have to choose a background color as the text is different (white text on a white background does not display). Command is ?back=transparent
• Modify the php url. If you use both, you have to add a "&" to join the commands. So for example:
• For a blue background non-transparent small vertical format (without index/SFI explainations), change "http://www.hamqsl.com/solar100sc.php" to "http://www.hamqsl.com/solar100sc.php?bgcolor=blue"
• For a orange background (black static text and red dynamic text) transparent horizontal format, change "http://www.hamqsl.com/solar101sc.php" to "http://www.hamqsl.com/solar101sc.php?bgcolor=orange&back=transparent"
• For a black background transparent large vertical format (with the index/SFI explainations), change "http://www.hamqsl.com/solar2.php" to "http://www.hamqsl.com/solar2.php?back=transparent"
• To select the desired image you want (only available on the sun image panels), modify the php text as follows:
• Choose a solar image (see the table above for more information about each image) if other than the default mdi (orange sun) image shown - available in eit171 (blue sun), eit195 (green sun), eit284 (gold sun), eit304 (red sun), vsm1 (B&W mag), vsm2 (red mag), or sh (orange mag). Command is ?image=
• Modify the php url. So for example:
• For a blue sun , change "http://www.hamqsl.com/solarpic.php" to "http://www.hamqsl.com/solarpic.php?image=eit171"
• For a red sun , change "http://www.hamqsl.com/solarpic.php" to "http://www.hamqsl.com/solarpic.php?image=eit304"
• For a orange magnetic sun , change "http://www.hamqsl.com/solarpic.php" to "http://www.hamqsl.com/solarpic.php?image=sh"
• Data is updated automatically from the NOAA website every 3 hours - you will need to refresh your web page to update
• Image is a .gif file in the following sizes and data combinations:
• Terrestrial data in small vertical format w/o band calculations is 3.8kb, 155 X 185
• Terrestrial data in small vertical format is 4kb, 155 X 220
• Terrestrial data in large vertical format is 5.6kb, 155 X 300
• Terrestrial data in large vertical format with current solar image is 11.1kb, 155 X 319
• Terrestrial data in large vertical format with both HF and VHF data is 5.2kb, 155 X 337. My thanks to DXrobot - Gouda for the VHF Aurora and E-Skip data, and also to Make More Miles on VHF for the MUF ES and Meteor Scatter data. Data used with permission.
• Terrestrial data in horizontal format is 6kb, 460 X 125
• Please do not change the code (free service will go away)
• Refer to the HAMQSL FAQ Page or contact me if you have any questions.
• Here is an outstanding 71 slide PowerPoint briefing by Charlie Christmann (K5CEC) for understanding the impacts that SpaceWeather has on HF propagation (in layman's terms so a normal person can actually understand it). The HAMQSL FAQ Page also has some information on how to use the lesser know data (such as X-Ray and Proton Flux). Also there is a good write-up on explaining the data in the banner in the May 09 addition of the WT4RA newsletter.

TYPE	PANEL	HTML CODE
No Band Condition Calculations Large Vertical Selectable Solar Image eit171 (blue) eit195 (green) eit284 (gold) eit304 (red) mdi (orange) vsm1 (B&W mag) vsm2 (red mag) sh (org mag) Black Only No Transparent		<center> <a href="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html" title="Click to add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your website!"><img src="http://www.hamqsl.com/solarpic.php"></a> </center>
HF & VHF Band Condition Calculations Large Vertical Black Only No Transparent		<center> <a href="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html" title="Click to add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your website!"><img src="http://www.hamqsl.com/solarvhf.php"></a> </center>
No Band Condition Calculations Small Vertical Multi-Color & Transparent		<center> <a href="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html" title="Click to add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your website!"><img src="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.php"></a> </center>
Band Condition Calculations Small Vertical Multi-Color & Transparent		<center> <a href="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html" title="Click to add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your website!"><img src="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar100sc.php"></a> </center>
Band Condition Calculations Large Vertical Multi-Color & Transparent		<center> <a href="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html" title="Click to add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your website!"><img src="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar2.php"></a> </center>
Band Condition Calculations Horizontal Selectable Solar Image eit171 (blue) eit195 (green) eit284 (gold) eit304 (red) mdi (orange) vsm1 (B&W mag) vsm2 (red mag) sh (org mag) Black Only No Transparent		<center> <a href="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html" title="Click to add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your website!"><img src="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar101pic.php"></a> </center>
HF & VHF Band Condition Calculations Horizontal Black Only No Transparent		<center> <a href="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html" title="Click to add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your website!"><img src="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar101vhf.php"></a> </center>
Band Condition Calculations Horizontal Multi-Color & Transparent		<center> <a href="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html" title="Click to add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your website!"><img src="http://www.hamqsl.com/solar101sc.php"></a> </center>

Add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your Windows XP Desktop

• To place on your desktop (requires google desktop):
• Click this download google desktop to download the self executable file and follow instructions to install google desktop
• Open Google Desktop Sidebar and add a gadget. Search for "solar" - it should come up. Then just add the gadget.
• If you do not see both gadgets, you can download them from the following links:
•  Solar/HF Propagation Data with K/A Index/SFI explainations
•  Solar/HF Propagation Data without K/A Index/SFI explainations
• The panel reloads every hour so the 3-hour update will be displayed.
• Email me with any problems you may encounter.

Add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your Windows Vista Desktop

• To place on your desktop:
• Click one of the following links to download the desired self extracting executable file
• Small vertical format (without index/SFI explainations)
• Large vertical format (with index/SFI explainations)
• When prompted save to your hard drive
• When prompted click "run", or open the Solardata.exe in My Computer
• When prompted browse to your "C" drive. Note that the files need to be placed in the following path: C:\Program Files\Windows Sidebar\Gadgets in the Solardata.Gadget (small) or Solardata1.Gadget (large) folder. If you select the C Drive, the executable should place in the proper location and make the new folders. You will need administrator permissions to do this!
• Close the window, and select your Gadgets
• Grab the "Solar Data" icon and move to your sidebar. The Solar-Data panel should be displayed on your sidebar.
• The panel reloads every hour so the 3-hour update will be displayed.
• Email me with any problems you may encounter.

Add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your iPhone or iPod

Special thanks to Paul Picazo (KI6KIK) for making a couple of applications that will run on your iPhone or iPod.
The iPhone app is available at the following link http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=327730462
The Android (Google Phone) app is available at the following link http://www.android.com/market/
The links above are used just like a normal hyperlink for iPhone / iPod touch users on their desktops to find the application.
Paul is using the same exact data I am using for the stickers and gadgets, so it updates every 3-hours as well.
Partial screenshot is shown at right, for both the iphone and google phone applications.

Add Solar-Terrestrial Data to your BlackBerry

• To place on the main page of your BlackBerry:
• ON YOUR BLACKBERRY, download the following programs from http://m.jonathanhfisher.co.uk/webshortcuts/. You will get a prompt saying the application was downloaded. Click OK (not RUN) on both downloads.
• Shortcut hub utility
• Web shortcut 1
• Open the “shortcut hub utility” from your blackberry
• Enter the follow data under “Shortcut 1 Config:
• Title: Solar HF/Propagation
• Site: http://www.hamqsl.com/solargadget.php (for the small vertical panel) or http://www.hamqsl.com/solargadget1.php (for the large vertical panel)
• Icon: http://www.hamqsl.com/bbicon.png
• Press the Back key and select save
• Open the generic “web shortcut 1” icon
• You will most likely get a permissions window. Under “Don’t ask again for:” you need to select “file connections to….” (not the all file connections) then select “Allow this connection”
• Repeat this as many times as necessary (usually 3-4) for all the files.
• You will see a “download icons” progress bar, then the banner should be displayed.
• Press the back arrow until your main screen is displayed and verify the new solar icon is there. Click on it to display the banner.
• Highlight the “shortcut hub utility” icon and select “hide” (you don't need to see this anymore-but it has to remain on the BB).
• The panel reloads every time you select it - no auto refresh.
• Email me with any problems you may encounter.

Solar-Terrestrial Data XML or RSS Feeds

• I recognize that a lot of you would like to create your own solar terestrial related web information. So, to make it easier, I am offering the data in XML and RSS format. Please be aware, these feeds will last as long as I do not hear grief from my ISP provider. If I do they are gone!! So please only select to update every hour - that is the update period for the flux parameters (rest are 3-hour updates). Credit to HAMQSL.com would be appreciated.
• Click to subscribe to an XML feed of the current Solar-Terrestrial Data
• Click to subscribe to an RSS feed of the current Solar-Terrestrial Data