rjr@mgweed.UUCP (Bob Roehrig) (05/08/84)
qst de k9eui hr propagation forecast bulletin nr 19 from arrl headquarters newington ct may 7, 1984 to all radio amateurs bt as predicted last week, the solar flux went into a steep decline, from 183 on april 29 to 106 on may 6. the large and varied active spot groups responsible for the years highest flux level have now disappeared around the west limb. some new activity is showing in the east but so far it has merely slowed the rate of decline. some upward movement is expected around the middle of the forecast week. the barrage of solar flares continues, and with this have come more almost total ionospheric blackouts and auroral effects in the northern states and adjacent areas of canada. propagation conditions will continue very variable much of the time, but with improving signal levels and reduced fading late in the forecast week. some increase in the number and duration of e skip openings on 28 and 50 mhz will be noticed, and some e skip may appear briefly on 144 mhz, although major openings on this frequency are unlikely until late may or early june. american sunspot numbers for april 26 through may 2 were between 82 and 123 with a mean of 101.7 ar