Solar activity was up for this reporting week, April 6 – 12.

Seven new sunspot groups appeared: one on April 6, another on April 9, two more on April 10, another on April 11, and two more on April 12.

The average daily sunspot number rose from 53.4 to 70.6, and the average daily solar flux increased from 132.5 to 141.

Geomagnetic conditions were calm. The average daily planetary A index dropped from 15 to 7.6, and the middle latitude average dropped from 11.7 to 6.4.

Predicted solar flux is 155 and 160 on April 13 – 14; 165 on April 15 – 16; 160 on April 17 – 18, then 155 and 152 on April 19 – 20; 155 on April 21 – 22; 158 on April 23; 155 on April 24 – 25, then 152, 148, 145, and 142 on April 26 – 29; 140 on April 30 and May 1; 142 and 140 on May 2 – 3; 135 on May 4 – 5, then 130, 140, 145, 150, 152, 155, and 158 on May 6 – 12, and 160 on May 13 – 15.

Predicted planetary A index is 5 on April 13 – 15; 12 on April 16; 8 on April 17 – 18, then 5, 10, 15, and 10 on April 19 – 22; 5 on April 23 – 25, then 15 and 18 on April 26 – 27; 15 on April 28 – 30, then 12 and 10 on May 1 – 2; 8 on May 3 – 4; 5 on May 5 – 6, then 8, 10, and 8 on May 7 – 9, and 5 on May 10 – 13.

Spaceweather.com released this news on Wednesday:

“Evidence is mounting that Solar Cycle 25 might peak much earlier than expected. New research by a leading group of solar physicists predicts maximum sunspot activity in late 2023 or early 2024 with a peak that could be twice as strong as the previous solar cycle.”

It is all explained in this paper:

https://bit.ly/41gZnW4

Look in the Spaceweather.com archive for April 12 – 13 to read more.

I noticed some odd 10-meter propagation at 2000 UTC on April 11. While running FT8 and a one wavelength end-fed wire at my home in Seattle, the only stations that heard me, according to pskreporter.info, were one in New Zealand, another in Hawaii, and only five stations in Florida over a 200-mile strip from 2,512 to 2,712 miles. Checking again at 2015 UTC, it was still the same.

Sunspot numbers for April 6 – 12, 2023, were 33, 38, 49, 52, 92, 103, and 127, with a mean of 70.6. 10.7-centimeter flux was 137.1, 136.3, 135.9, 140.3, 139.8, 143.4, and 154, with a mean of 141. Estimated planetary A indices were 9, 8, 6, 6, 14, 6, and 4, with a mean of 7.6. Middle latitude A index was 7, 7, 5, 5, 11, 6, and 4, with a mean of 6.4.

HAM is a short documentary that follows a group of Montanan amateur radio enthusiasts that show the loyal community of amateur radio, explore what it means to be a ham, and how they are trying to keep the hobby alive. Thank you to everyone who made this documentary happen, to all of our peers at UM, to the awesome people who let us into their lives, and to everyone who cheered us on the whole way. Special thanks to the School of Visual and Media Arts at the University of Montana and Montana PBS. Produced by students from the School of Visual and Media Arts program at the University of Montana in 2022. Aired on Montana PBS on November 24th, 2022.

Here is the link to that documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt5wZhC5crI

Average solar flux and sunspot numbers went down this week. Sunspot numbers are down by half, from 112.6 last week to 53.4 this week. Average daily solar flux declined from 156.1 to 132.5.

Geomagnetic indicators also declined this week. The average daily planetary A index went from 23.3 last week to 15 this week. Average daily middle latitude A index went down from 13.7 to 11.7.

The middle latitude A index for April 1 was not available, so my guess for it is 11.

Predicted solar flux is 140 on April 6 – 8; 135 on April 9 – 11; 140 on April 12 – 13; 130 on April 14; 135 on April 15 – 17; 140 on April 18 – 20; 135 on April 21 – 23, then 130, 125, and 120 on April 24 – 26; 115 on April 27 – 29; 125 on April 30; 120 on May 1 – 2; 115 on May 3 – 4, and 110 on May 5 – 7.

Predicted planetary A index was 8 on April 6; 5 on April 7 – 10, then 8, 8, and 5 on April 11 – 13; 8 on April 14 – 15, then 12, 10, and 15 on April 16 – 18, then 5, 20, 15, and 10 on April 19 – 22; 5 on April 23 – 25, then 15 and 18 on April 26 – 27; 15 on April 28 – 29; 8 on April 30; 10 on May 1 – 2; 8 on May 3, and 5 on May 4 – 6.

This video from Tamitha Skov features flares and wind, and came out right after last week’s bulletin:

https://youtu.be/F8ERhLiOK88

Sunspot numbers for March 30 through April 5, 2023, were 99, 61, 23, 54, 56, 44, and 37, with a mean of 53.4. 10.7-centimeter flux was 140.3, 129.3, 125.3, 126.9, 133.6, 135.7, and 136.6, with a mean of 132.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 17, 21, 13, 15, 15, 13, and 11, with a mean of 15. Middle latitude A index was 11, 17, 11, 13, 11, 10, and 9, with a mean of 11.7.

Solar activity increased this week. The average daily sunspot number rose from 68 to 112.6, and the average daily solar flux changed from 145.6 to 156.1.

Due to solar wind at the beginning of the reporting week, average daily planetary A index increased from 10.6 to 23.3, while average middle latitude A index went from 8.4 to 13.7. Many reports of aurora came in this week, some down to lower latitudes in North America.

Predicted solar flux is 150 on March 30 through April 1; 140 on April 2 – 3; 130 on April 4 – 5; 132 on April 6 – 8, then 130, 132, 135, and 135 on April 9 – 12, then 140, 145, and 148 on April 13 – 15, then 150, 150, 155, 155, and 158 on April 16 – 20; 160 on April 21 – 23, then 155, 145, and 145 on April 24 – 26, and 135 on April 27 through May 1.

Predicted planetary A index is 18 on March 30 – 31, then 16, 12, 10, and 8 on April 1 – 4, then 5 on April 5 – 9, then 15, 12, 8, and 5 on April 10 13; 8 on April 14 – 15, then 12, 20, 15, and 5 on April 16 – 19, then 20, 15, and 10 on April 20 – 22; 8 on April 23 – 24; 5 on April 25 – 26, then 12, 15, 10, and 8 on April 27 – 30.

Sunspot numbers from March 23 through 29, 2023, were 73, 108, 105, 125, 128, 114, and 135, with a mean of 112.6. 10.7-centimeter flux was 151, 157.5, 160.3, 159.4, 158.2, 158.7, and 147.8, with a mean of 156.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 60, 66, 15, 8, 3, 5, and 6, with a mean of 23.3. Middle latitude A index was 28, 40, 12, 6, 2, 4, and 4, with a mean of 13.7.

I am a HAM that has been into Capitol Forest many times. I’ve been on the dirt back roads in dry, muddy, and snowy conditions. Yesterday’s adventure was no different. I started into the forest on a beautiful late afternoon. I like to go up in elevation so I can operate on HF with minimal power and use the height as the advantage. I decided to go up to a favorite spot I know of near the repeater site. The road was completely dry, and then I saw some small patches of snow. I rounded a corner and the snow became very deep. By the time I made the decision to stop I was in it. I started to back down only to find I was being pushed towards ditch. By the time I went forward to correct I was stuck.

Upon realizing my predicament, I grabbed the HT and called out on the repeater. Luckily it was shortly before a net, so there were plenty of ears listening. Hearing my issue, Duke,KK7EGK and Josh,WA7AW contacted me and soon they formulated a plan. In under 2 hours they had arrived with tools to help get my vehicle freed.  

Now would I have got this response from anywhere else on a late Sunday afternoon? Probably not.

Thank you to everyone on the Capital Peak repeater that assisted with ideas, input, and general uplifting chat. As mentioned I have been into Capitol Forest many times to operate for Parks On The Air (POTA). Although I hold the top spot for this location, It wouldn’t be possible without the fellow HAMs that know the peak roads even better than me. We all make mistakes, and my lesson has been learned.

Thank you Capital Peak Repeater Group!

73 Eric Mallek – K7EVM