ad7i (01/25/83)
qst de ad7i red bank, new jersey, u.s.a. hr propagation forecast bulletin nr 4 from arrl headquarters newington ct january 24, 1983 to all radio amateurs bt the solar flux rise reported last week was minimal. after reaching 145 on the 16th, the flux slid to a low of 117 on the 22nd. it rose slightly the next day, but the appearance of the sun gives little indication of significant upward movement in the next few days. geomagnetic activity went through a broad peak just after the middle of the month, but it was falling again and propagation was improving at bulletin time. prospects are for a minor disturbance peak about the 25th, followed by improved conditions through the rest of the forecast week. qst propagation charts for late january show a slight increase in the number of hours available for east west work on the higher frequencies despite the anticipated drop in solar activity and sunspot numbers. this is the expected result of increasing hours of northern hemisphere daylight at this season. the decline in solar activity has brought the solar flux down nearer to the base numbers used for the charts, making for improved accuracy on most paths through at least february. american sunspot numbers for jan 13 through 19 ranged between 80 and 103, with a mean of 90.7 ar