Space Weather Indices

[NEW] Cycle 23 Effective Sunspot Number plot.

This page provides access to plots of several indices of solar and geomagnetic activity that are frequently used as inputs to space-weather models. Brief definitions of each of the indices plotted are as follows:

F10.7 - Solar radio noise flux at a wavelength of 10.7 cm;
GPS-derived F10.7 - F10.7 value derived from GPS IONO coefficients;
SSNe - Effective sunspot number derived from ionospheric measurements;
IPS T index - Ionospheric index derived from ionospheric measurements;
Ap(est) - Daily global index of geomagnetic activity (estimate).
Qe - Effective Q index (auroral activity index).
Auroral Boundary Index - Surrogate Kp derived from satellite observations.

Additional information defining the various indices are included with the expanded plots that are obtained by clicking on the "button" versions of the plots on this page. References for the various indices are listed at the end of each page of expanded plots.

Tabular listing of selected indices.

Near Real-Time Plots

Plot of R/T Auroral Boundary and Auroral Boundary Index (TIROS)

Plot of R/T Qe and Auroral Boundary Indices (DMSP)

Plot of R/T 24hr SSNe Index

Track the status of the solar-cycle - one year of SSNe

Plots of Daily Indices

10.7cm Solar Radio Flux (Observed and Inferred)

Effective SSN and T Indices

Geomagnetic Daily Ap(est) Index

Comparison of SSN Indices

Plots of NOAA/SWPC 27-day F10 and Ap Forecasts

Maps of Geomagnetic Latitude and Regimes

The data shown in these plots came from the following sources:

F10.7, SSN, and Ap(est) from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center(SWPC)
GPS IONO coefficients from the NOAA NGS CORS site.
SSNe from NWRA calculated using foF2 data from the NOAA SWPC
IPS T index from the Austrailian Ionospheric Prediction Service (IPS) Radio and Space Services
Qe from the USAF Weather Agency
Auroral boundary index from NWRA calculated using DMSP SSJ/4 data from the NOAA SWPC
Auroral boundary location from NWRA calculated using NOAA TIROS data from the NOAA SWPC
Auroral boundary index from NWRA calculated using NOAA TIROS data from the NOAA SWPC

This is not an exhaustive look at the issue of ionosphere-related space-weather indices.
Additional indices can be obtained from the National Geophysical Data Center.

If you would like to get a feel for how effective these effective-SSN indices are, foF2 plots comparing the observations with model foF2 values calculated using the NWRA SSNE and IPS T values are available. There is a one-day delay between the latest SSNe values available and these plots to permit more data to arrive at the NOAA SWPC for comparison.

Daily foF2 Comparison Plots

If you are interested in further information regarding ionospheric radio propagation, the Radio Society of Great Britain Propagation Studies Committee has a large collection of links to things propagational.

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