The Space Weather for Aviation Service Providers web page is designed to communicate space weather information to the aviation community in terms that are easy to interpret and understand. This web page is designed to provide the most applicable space weather information addressing aviation concerns, and make it accessible in one location on the web site. See the sample web page which shows how the page looked during the high solar activity in September 2005.
The Aviation web page is made up of the sections described below. The web page automatically reloads every minute, but not all displays are created at that rate. Missing data indicates the data has not been received at SWPC.
24 hour Forecast -- The 24 hour summary and forecast statements are taken from the SWPC Geophysical Alert Message (sometimes referred to as the WWV message) which is issued every 3-hours, usually by 20 minutes past the hour, e.g. 0020, 0320, ... 2120 UTC. The Geophysical Alert Message title links to daily files with the eight 3-hourly messages issued during the UT day. Description
NOAA Scales Activity -- The NOAA Scales table indicates the environmental disturbances in the past 24 hours and the current readings for three types of events: geomagnetic storms, solar radiation storms, and radio blackouts. The scales are numbered levels that convey severity; 1 (minor) to 5 (extreme), analogous to hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes. The table is updated every minute. Description
POES Auroral Activity Estimate -- The POES plot shows the current extent and position of the auroral oval in the Northern Hemisphere, extrapolated from measurements taken during the most recent polar pass of the NOAA POES satellite. The plot from the most recent satellite pass is shown, approximately every 20 minutes. The plot title, and plot itself, link to the Auroral Activity Extrapolated from NOAA POES web page. Background Information
D-Region Absorption Prediction -- The D-Region graphic shows the current operational impact of X-ray flux on HF radio communication. The graphic is updated once a minute based on the most recent data. The plot title, and plot itself, link to the D-Region Absorption Prediction web page. Description
Estimated Planetary K-index --The K-index plot shows the 3-hourly estimated Planetary K-indices (Kp) for the last 3 days. The Estimated Planetary K-index is derived by the U.S. Air Force Space Forecast Center using ground-based magnetometers. K-indices of 5 or greater indicate storm-level geomagnetic activity. This plot is updated every 15 minutes. The plot title, and plot itself, link to an updating Estimated Planetary K-index web page with a larger image.Two short topic pages have more information: The K-index and The Relationship Between Kp and the Aurora.
GOES Proton Flux -- This plot contains 3 days of 5-minute averaged integral proton flux as measured by the primary SWPC GOES satellite for energy thresholds of >=10, >=50, and >=100 MeV. SWPC's proton event threshold is 10 protons/cm2-s-sr at >=10 Mev. This plot is updated every 5 minutes. The plot title, and plot itself, link to an updating GOES Proton Flux web page with a larger image. See GOES Satellite Data at SWPC for more information.
GOES X-ray Flux -- Contains 5 minute averages of solar X-ray output from both operational GOES satellites. SWPC alerts are issued at the M5 and X1 levels, based upon 1-minute data. Large X-ray bursts cause short wave fades for HF propagation paths through the sunlit hemisphere. This plot is updated every 5 minutes.The plot title, and plot itself, link to an updating GOES X-ray Flux web page with a larger image. See GOES Satellite Data at SWPC for more information.
Space Weather Alerts -- Space Weather Alerts, issued in past 24 hours, of conditions that may have a direct impact on aviation operations for lost or degraded communications, unreliable navigational equipment, flight-critical electronic system problems, and solar radiation hazards are shown. Each alert links to a complete list of alerts issued in the current month. The alerts list is updated every minute. Also see Space Weather Alerts and Warnings Timeline and Alert descriptions and samples.
Send comments and suggestions to SWPC.CustomerSupport@noaa.gov
or mail to: SWPC Customer Support / Larry Combs, Space Weather Center W/NP9,
325 Broadway, Boulder CO 80305
Larry Combs, October 2005