SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP055 ARLP055 Propagation de K9LA ZCZC AP55 QST de W1AW Propagation Forecast Bulletin 55 ARLP055 From Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA Ft. Wayne, IN December 28, 2001 To all radio amateurs SB PROP ARL ARLP055 ARLP055 Propagation de K9LA Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA is filling in this week for Tad Cook, K7VVV. This report is for the period Friday December 21 through Thursday December 27. Solar activity was low at the beginning of the reporting period, with only class C flares occurring. Solar activity increased to high levels toward the end of the period due to many class M flares, the biggest being an M7 proton flare on December 26. This flare produced a short duration 100MeV proton event, and a longer duration 10MeV proton event that is still in progress. A PCA (Polar Cap Absorption) event also occurred, reaching a peak absorption of about 9dB at 1115z on December 26. Accompanying the M7 flare was a CME (Coronal Mass Ejection). Geophysical activity mostly ranged from quiet to unsettled over the reporting period. The Penticton (British Columbia) 10.7 cm solar flux was 234 on December 21 and gradually increased to 275 on December 27. The daily planetary magnetic index Ap was below 10 for most of the period. It is predicted to increase to around 30 on December 28 due to the CME activity of December 26. This will result in minor storm conditions, but these conditions are expected to be relatively brief. K7VVV will be back next week with this week's sunspot numbers, solar flux numbers, and A indices. NNNN /EX