‰ Now 18 WPM transition file follows ‰

Average daily sunspot numbers for the past week, December 29 through
January 4, were nearly 22 points below the previous period. Average
daily solar flux was about the same. Average daily mid latitude
geomagnetic indices, the A and K index, were exactly the same, and
the planetary A and K index were slightly lower. For the near term
expect sunspot numbers and solar flux to stay around the same
levels, which are low, but gradually rise to a short term peak
around January 15 and 16. The A and K index should also stay quiet,
with a returning active patch of Sun causing unsettled to active
geomagnetic conditions around January 16 and again around January 23
and 24. January 10 to 12 should have very quiet, stable geomagnetic
indicators. Those forecasts are from the U.S. Air Force, via NOAA.
Geophysical Institute Prague expects quiet conditions for January 9
to 11, quiet to unsettled today, January 6, and again on January 12,
and unsettled conditions January 7 and 8. Currently our Sun is
quiet, and the interplanetary magnetic field points north, both
indicators of quiet geomagnetic conditions. Now that we have the
solar flux and sunspot numbers for all of 2005, it is time for a
review of annual averages. Average daily sunspot numbers for the
years 1999 through 2005 were 136R3, 173, 170R3, 176R6, 109R2, 68R6
and 48R9. Average daily solar flux for the same years was 153R7,
179R6, 181R6, 179R5, 129R2, 106R6 and 91R9. The steady decline over
each calendar year since the 2000 to 2002 period should continue
through the end of this year. Two years from now we should know when
trends turned around. In order to get a better picture of what the
ionosphere is doing now, two similar methods have been developed,
the T Index and SSNe. The T Index comes out of Australias IPS, or
Ionospheric Prediction Service, and is named after its developer
Jack Turner. SSNe, or equivalent sunspot number, was developed by
the US Air Force Global Weather Central organization, and is
available from Northwest Research Associates on the web. Sunspot
numbers for December 29 through January 4 were 77, 67, 62, 41, 37,
39 and 25 with a mean of 49R7. 10R7 cm flux was 90R3, 89R9, 87R4,
87R4, 84R5, 84R9, and 84, with a mean of 86R9. Estimated planetary A
indices were 8, 7, 9, 4, 5, 3 and 2 with a mean of 5R4.  Estimated
mid latitude A indices were 7, 6, 9, 5, 5, 3 and 1, with a mean of
5R1‚

‰ End of 18 WPM transition file ‰