Solar Cycle 24: The Wait Continues

***update***

Solar cycle 24 is starting to show some activity. As of December 22 '09 there are five active regions:

http://spaceweather.com/

*Disclaimer* - This clip is not intended to support nor should be used as "evidence" for either side of the climate change debate. It's simply a demonstration of how quiet the sun is just now, and how it is having an effect on shortwave radio reception for hams and the like.

----end
There's currently quite a big lull in the sunspot count on the Sun.

"So?" you ask...

Shortwave radio in general is best when there's things going on with the Sun - the amount of sunspots on the Sun relates to how well the ionosphere, the part of the atmosphere that refracts radio waves, can propagate shortwave signals.

Otherwise, they break the burly bonds of Earth and escape into space.

Godspeed little signals. Godspeed.

Amateur operators, spy number stations, and other more obscure items of interest on shortwave need friendlier solar conditions.

Alas, all we can do is wait. There's other stuff to do of course besides shortwave listening...

...maybe.

In addition to not being able to receive, say, the Voice of Belarus, or something, there's been talk of the heliopause, the big bubble around the solar system, weakening and allowing in more deadly cosmic rays to the inner solar system.

Maybe that's something to think about... I personally just want the shortwave bands back.

All images courtesy SOHO.

Sites of interest:

http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html

http://www.spaceweather.com/

http://www.ips.gov.au/Space_Weather

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Solar
• cycle
• 24
• sun
• sunspots
• shortwave
• amateur
• radio
• ham
• listening
• reception
• transmission
• propagation
• ionosphere
• SOHO
• DXing
• signals
• worldband
• storm
• HF
• communications
• climate
• wind

[GoCo77]

This is heavy on drama and light on information



[MattExzy]

@GoCo77 The sun is rather dramatic!

[spyer22]

so let me ask, is shortwave better with sunspots or without?

[MattExzy]

@spyer22 It can depend on a lot of factors, like geomagnetic stuff. It depends on which layers in the ionosphere get 'turned on' by the suns radiation. With more activity now, it definitely has an affect, usually for the better with openings on different bands.

[SWL1409]

Great video, and today we have 42 sunspots !

[MattExzy]

Probably explains why last night I was picking up ship to shore shortwave phone links with the built-in antenna indoors, bring it on baby.

[Michaelwiseguy]

NO SUNSPOTS FOR ANYONE ON THIS PLANET TILL THE PESKY HUMANS LEARN A LESSON THEY WILL NEVER FORGET. THE SUN CONTROLS THE EARTH'S CLIMATE, NOT THE PESKY INHABITANTS AND THEIR CO2! Enslaving the world because of CO2 makes no sense. You will continue to be made colder till you abandon the notion of man-made global warming. NO SUNSPOTS FOR YOU. This message conveyed on behalf of the higher powers of the universe.

[k4kyv]

We could be entering another Maunder Minimum, like the one from from 1645 to 1715, when sunspots became exceedingly rare. But as of yet, the period of quiet sun has not exceeded the normal range of quiet periods observed at minima since statistics have been kept over the past couple of centuries or so.

[sonicgsxr750]

@spyer22 doesnt really matter, i have used 14mhz at night uk to melbourne australia for a perfect contact and also the same frequency to converse with tasmania the same night, the spoty count wasnt even over 10, but the flux was 110, the contacts where made from a car and using 100w pep into a shortened monobad antenna, but mainly its down to the f layer, the d layer has night time absorbtion and is use full for lower than 7mhz contacts, also try the ARRL for info

[sonicgsxr750]

@GoCo77 go on Space weather.com look at the archives, 99% of the stuff on you tube is bullshit, i use rf signals on a daily basis and have done since the end of the 1970's, i have studied the solar cycle min through max ever since

[killerbee04x]

IT IS NOT EXPECTED....IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. THAT IS WHY NASA SAID ANYTHING. THEY AREN'T TO STUCK UP TO WARN PEOPLE. JUST PERPARE. IF THE ECONOMY DOESN'T GET YOU THINKING. THEN JUST DIE OFF PLZ. SAY ME THE TIME OF KILLING YOU BECAUSE YOU TRY TO STEAL MY STUFF. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON'T SELL YOUR KIDS FOR FOOD/water or anything. just prepare. ok OK

[killerbee04x]

Reminds me of THE MOVIE FREQUENCY. WHERE YOU CAN TALK TO PEOPLE BACK IN TIME.

[david222444]

@GoCo77 Just like the greenhouse theory.

[23565120]

Greenhouse effect...Global Warming...Terrorist Attacks... Keep them a little bit frightened - and you'll keep them in line.

Got to find something to replace the "Commie" threat now the cold war is over!

Otherwise people might look up and want REAL power over their own lives WOAH!

[HvensFury]

x11115 The Arctic is not melting. They are showing you select footage of the summer when there is actual melting that is required so that the animals that feed on sea creature have access to their food source. Arctic Ice pack has increased in depth as well as density. There are 24 solar cycles. 12 year periods. We have just entered the 24th one that is the coldest one. Expect temps 30 degrees colder than anything on record when we're through. God is in charge, the cycles of nature are set.