Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mgweed.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!we13!mgweed!rjr
From: rjr@mgweed.UUCP (Bob Roehrig)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: arrl propagation forecast bulletin nr 13
Message-ID: <8086@mgweed.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Mar-84 19:08:45 EST
Article-I.D.: mgweed.8086
Posted: Mon Mar 26 19:08:45 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 27-Mar-84 02:55:00 EST
Organization: AT&T Consumer Products - Montgomery Illinois
Lines: 39


qst de k9eui
hr propagation forecast bulletin nr 13  from arrl headquarters
newington ct  march 26, 1984
to all radio amateurs 

the parade of sunspots across the  solar  disk  mentioned  last
week  appears  to  have  run  its  course.  the timing of their
appearance indicates that active areas seen since  early  march
are  mostly  new  ones, not what was left of groups that caused
the solar flux highs of january and february.  the  solar  flux
curve after about march 6 shows little resemblance to those for
the two previous solar rotations.  from  136  on  mar  15,  the
solar flux dropped gradually to 112 on the 25th, and it appears
likely to decline further during the forecast week.

despite this drop, flux numbers are still above the base figure
used  for  the propagation charts in march qst, so the forecast
week should see generally good activity on 21 and  28  mhz.   a
mild  geomagnetic  disturbance,  in  progress at bulletin time,
should clear by march 27, bringing better  propagation  in  the
higher latitudes for the next two days.  another disturbance is
expected about march 31.

it is of interest to 50 mhz dx enthusiasts that their band  has
been open for transequatorial dx in the southern tier of states
during at least six afternoons since march 5.   the  author  of
this  bulletin  worked  tg9nx  and several lus from his florida
location sunday afternoon, march 25.  watch for this  condition
during,  or  immediately after, periods of high k index, in the
afternoon hours local time.  high solar flux is  not  required.
opportunities  should  continue  through early april, at least.
strong signals  from  southern  10  meter  beacons  is  a  good
warning.  look especially for vp8ade, in the british antarctic,
on 28.283 mhz.

american sunspot numbers for march 15 through 21  were  between
84 and 107 with a mean of 95.4.