Scale of geomagnetic storms. Impact of geomagnetic storms on the human body. Forecast and monitoring of magnetic storms for a month

Now: Kp= 6 storm

In fact, in some places the surge of the storm rose to 7-8 points

The state of the magnetic field depending on the Kp index

Kp< 2 - спокойное;

Kp = 2, 3 - weakly perturbed;

Kp = 4 - perturbed;

Kp = 5, 6 - magnetic storm;

Kp = 7, 8 - strong magnetic storm;

Kp = 9 - very strong geomagnetic storm.

Forecast and monitoring of magnetic storms for a month

Level of geomagnetic storms

The graph below shows the geomagnetic disturbance index. This index determines the level of magnetic storms.

The larger it is, the stronger the disturbance. The graph is updated automatically every 15 minutes. Time indicated Moscow

The state of the magnetic field depending on the Kp index

Kp< 2 — спокойное;
K p = 2, 3 is weakly perturbed;
K p = 4 - perturbed;
K p = 5, 6 - magnetic storm;
K p = 7, 8 - strong magnetic storm;
K p = 9 is a very strong geomagnetic storm.

A magnetic storm is a disturbance in the magnetic field of our planet. This natural phenomenon usually lasts from several hours to a day or more.

Where can you see the aurora now?

You can watch the aurora borealis online.

In the image below, you can observe the emission of radiation streams from our Sun during flares. A peculiar forecast of magnetic storms. The earth is indicated by a yellow dot, and the time and date are in the upper left corner.

The state of the solar atmosphere

Below is a summary of the state of the solar atmosphere, the Earth's magnetosphere, as well as a forecast of magnetic activity for three days for Moscow and St. Petersburg.

The surface of the Sun taken from October 14 to October 30, 2014. The video shows a group of sunspots AR 2192, the largest in the last two solar cycles (22 years).

In professional slang, one of the varieties of geomagnetic manifestations is called magnetic storms. The nature of this phenomenon is closely related to the active interaction of the Earth's magnetic sphere with solar wind flows. According to statistics, about 68% of the population of our planet feel the influence of these flows, which from time to time come to the Earth. That is why experts recommend that people who are especially sensitive to changes in the atmosphere find out in advance when magnetic storms are expected, the forecast for the month can always be seen on our website.

Magnetic storms: what is it?

In simple terms, this is the reaction of the globe to flares that occur on the surface of the Sun. As a result of this, oscillations occur, after which the Sun emits billions of charged particles into the atmosphere. They are picked up by the solar wind, carrying them away at great speed. These particles can reach the Earth's surface in just a few days. Our planet has a unique electromagnetic field that performs a protective function. However, microparticles, which at the moment of approaching the Earth are located perpendicular to its surface, are able to penetrate even into the deep layers of the globe. As a result of this process, the earth's magnetic field reacts, which changes its characteristics many times over a short period. This phenomenon is called a magnetic storm.

What is weather dependence? If you feel unwell for no apparent reason, do not rush to the doctors, wait an hour or two. Perhaps you have become hostage to a magnetic storm caused by a sudden change in the weather. To make sure of this, study the forecast of magnetic storms for 3 days. Weather changes include the difference in atmospheric pressure, temperature and degree of air humidity, as well as the background of geomagnetic radiation. As for atmospheric pressure, it is the main factor in the development of meteorological dependence. Those who do not particularly respond to changes in the weather are called meteostable. This means that there are no serious malfunctions in the work of internal organs and systems in these "lucky ones". Their body is in excellent shape, easily adapting to sudden atmospheric changes. Thus, certain painful reactions of the body are dependent on meteorological indicators.

Attention! You have the opportunity to find out if magnetic storms are expected online today. To do this, use the chart that allows you to monitor online weather indicators indicating the imminent onset of a geomagnetic storm.

Magnetic storms forecast for today and tomorrow: online monitoring

• 0 - 1 point- there is no magnetic storm.
• 2 -3 points- a weak magnetic storm, does not affect well-being.
• 4 - 5 points- medium magnetic storm, slight malaise is possible.
• 6 -7 points- a strong magnetic storm, weather-dependent people should take care of their health.
• 8 - 9 points - very strong magnetic storm: headaches, nausea, increased blood pressure are likely.
• 10 points - extreme magnetic storm: it is best to spend the day at home, it is dangerous to drive.

The effect of magnetic storms on well-being

The most typical reactions to weather changes are headaches and increased heart rate. These manifestations may be accompanied by symptoms such as:

• increase in blood pressure;
• dizziness;
• weakness in the whole body;
• tremor of the limbs;
• insomnia;
• decrease in activity;
• increased fatigue.

People can feel the approach of a geomagnetic storm in a few days. The resulting malaise, in addition to the listed symptoms, is also explained by the fact that during a storm there is a thickening of the blood. This interferes with the normal oxygen exchange in the body. Hence the breakdown, ringing in the ears and dizziness.

Why is it important for weather-dependent people to track the forecast of magnetic storms? People who are weather sensitive are strongly advised by doctors to study the schedule of magnetic storms for tomorrow. Of course, tracking the forecast for several weeks in advance would be an ideal option, since sudden changes in meteorological parameters have a direct impact on the functionality of the body. Jumps in blood pressure upwards are considered the most dangerous reaction to magnetic storms. After all, this condition can cause hemorrhage in the brain. Those who do not suffer from serious illnesses should not worry. The risk group includes people with pathologies of the heart, blood vessels and organs of the respiratory system.

How to prevent the onset of "weather" malaise? Prevention of the occurrence of malaise as a result of exposure to magnetic storms is very important. On the eve of meteorological "surprises", in order to avoid manifestations of meteosensitivity or at least weaken them, you need to take appropriate medications.

What weaken the effect of magnetic storms on the body? These questions should be answered by your doctor, who is familiar with the characteristics of your body. Important! When prescribing a drug, a specialist must take into account the clinical picture, as well as the dynamics of your chronic diseases. Do not take any drugs that can lead to significant changes in the functioning of the body, unless prescribed by a specialized doctor.

One of the key skills of any HF DX hunter is the ability to evaluate conditions at any given time. Excellent transmission conditions, when many stations from all over the world are heard on the bands, can change so that the bands are empty and only single stations make their way through the noise and crackle of the ether. In order to understand what and why is happening in the radio, as well as to assess its capabilities at a given time, three main indices are used: solar flux, A p and K p . A good practical understanding of what these values ​​are and what they mean is an advantage even for a radio amateur with the best and most modern set of communications equipment.

Earth atmosphere

The ionosphere can be thought of as something multi-layered. The boundaries of the layers are rather conditional and are determined by areas with a sharp change in the level of ionization (Fig. 1). The ionosphere has a direct impact on the nature of the propagation of radio waves, because, depending on the degree of ionization of its individual layers, radio waves can be refracted, that is, the trajectory of their propagation ceases to be rectilinear. Quite often, the degree of ionization is high enough that radio waves bounce off highly ionized layers and return to Earth. (Fig. 2).

The conditions for the passage of radio waves on the HF bands are continuously changing depending on the change in the levels of ionization of the ionosphere. Solar radiation, reaching the upper layers of the earth's atmosphere, ionizes gas molecules, generating positive ions and free electrons. This entire system is in dynamic equilibrium due to the process of recombination, the reverse of ionization, when positively charged ions and free electrons interacting with each other again form gas molecules. The higher the degree of ionization (the more free electrons), the better the ionosphere reflects radio waves. In addition, the higher the level of ionization, the higher the frequencies can be, at which good transmission conditions are provided. The level of atmospheric ionization depends on many factors, including time of day, season, and the most important factor - the solar activity cycle. It is reliably known that the intensity of solar radiation depends on the number of spots on the Sun. Accordingly, the maximum radiation received from the Sun is reached during periods of maximum solar activity. In addition, during these periods, geomagnetic activity also increases due to an increase in the intensity of the flow of ionized particles from the Sun. Usually this flux is quite stable, but due to flares that occur on the Sun, it can be significantly enhanced. Particles reach near-Earth space and interact with the Earth's magnetic field, causing its perturbations and generating magnetic storms. In addition, these particles can cause ionospheric storms, in which short-wave radio communication becomes difficult, and sometimes even impossible.

The flux of solar radiation

A quantity known as the solar flux is the main indicator of solar activity and determines the level of radiation received by the Earth from the Sun. It is measured in solar flux units (SFU) and is determined by the level of radio noise emitted at a frequency of 2800 MHz (10.7 cm). The Penticton Radio Astronomy Observatory in British Columbia, Canada, publishes this value daily. The flux of solar radiation has a direct impact on the degree of ionization and hence the concentration of electrons in the F 2 region of the ionosphere. As a result, it gives a very good idea of ​​the possibility of establishing radio communications over long distances.

The value of the solar flux can vary within 50 - 300 units. Small values ​​indicate that the maximum usable frequency (MUF) will be low, and the general conditions for radio waves will be poor, especially on the high frequency bands. (Fig. 2) On the contrary, high values ​​of the solar flux indicate sufficient ionization, which makes it possible to establish long-range communications at higher frequencies. However, it should be remembered that it takes several days in a row with high solar flux values ​​​​for the passage conditions to noticeably improve. Usually, during periods of high solar activity, the solar flux exceeds 200 with short-term bursts up to 300.

Geomagnetic activity

There are two indices that are used to determine the level of geomagnetic activity - A and K. They show the magnitude of magnetic and ionospheric disturbances. Index K shows the magnitude of geomagnetic activity. Every day, every 3 hours, starting from 00:00 UTC, the maximum deviations of the index value relative to the values ​​for a quiet day of the selected observatory are determined, and the largest value is selected. Based on these data, the value of the K index is calculated. The K index is a quasi-logarithmic value, therefore, it cannot be averaged to obtain a long-term historical picture of the state of the Earth's magnetic field. To solve this problem, there is an index A, which is a daily average. It is calculated quite simply - each measurement of the index K, made, as mentioned above, with a 3-hour interval, according to Tab. one

converted to an equivalent index. The values ​​of this index obtained during the day are averaged and as a result, the value of the A index is obtained, which on ordinary days does not exceed 100, and during very serious geomagnetic storms it can reach 200 or even more. The values ​​of the A index may differ for different observatories, since perturbations of the Earth's magnetic field may be of a local nature. To avoid discrepancies, the indices A obtained at different observatories are averaged and, as a result, the global index A p is obtained. In the same way, the value of the index K p is obtained - the average value of all indexes K obtained in various observatories of the globe. Its values ​​between 0 and 1 characterize a calm geomagnetic environment, and this may indicate the presence of good transmission conditions in the shortwave bands, provided that the intensity of the solar radiation flux is sufficiently high. Values ​​between 2 and 4 indicate a moderate or even active geomagnetic environment, which is likely to adversely affect radio wave conditions. Further down the scale, 5 indicates a minor storm, 6 a severe storm, and 7 to 9 indicate a very severe storm that will likely result in no passage to HF. Despite the fact that geomagnetic and ionospheric storms are interconnected, it is worth noting once again that they are different. A geomagnetic storm is a disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field, and an ionospheric storm is a disturbance of the ionosphere.

Interpreting Index Values

The easiest way to use the index values ​​is to enter them as input into the program for calculating the radio wave propagation forecast. This will allow you to get a more or less reliable forecast. In their calculations, these programs take into account additional factors, such as signal propagation paths, because the effect of magnetic storms will be different for different paths.

In the absence of a program, a good estimated forecast can be made independently. Obviously, higher values ​​of the solar flux index are good. Generally speaking, the more intense the flow, the better the conditions will be on the high HF bands, including the 6m band. However, the previous day's flow should also be taken into account. Maintaining high values ​​for several days will provide a higher degree of ionization of the F2 layer of the ionosphere. Usually values ​​above 150 guarantee good HF coverage. High levels of geomagnetic activity also have an unfavorable side effect that significantly reduces MUF. The higher the level of geomagnetic activity according to the Ap and Kp indices, the lower the MUF. The actual MUF values ​​depend not only on the strength of the magnetic storm, but also on its duration.

Conclusion

Constantly monitor changes in the values ​​of the indices of solar and geomagnetic activity. This data is available on the websites www.eham.net , www.qrz.com , www.arrl.org and many others, and it can also be obtained through the terminal when connecting to DX clusters. A good run on HF is possible during periods when the solar flux exceeds 150 for several days, while the K p index stays below 2. When these conditions are met, check the bands - there must be some good DX already working there!

Adapted from Understanding Solar Indices By Ian Poole, G3YWX