Solar X-rays:  Geomagnetic Field:

Amateur Radio communication at HF frequencies (3-30MHz, the so-called "shortwave" bands) is heavily dependent upon the activity of the sun.  It's the sun's radiation affecting the earth's geomagnetic field that largely determines how well we might communicate with other hams around the world.  Knowing the status and condition of the sun and the earth's geomagnetic field helps us understand how, why, and predict when such world-wide communication is possible.
 

About The Solar Activity Monitor

The Solar X-ray Status Monitor downloads data periodically from the NOAA Space Environment Center FTP server. The previous 24 hours of 5 minute Long-wavelength X-ray data from each satellite (GOES 8 and GOES 10) is analyzed, and an appropriate level of activity for the past 24 hours is assigned as follows:
  Normal: Solar X-ray flux is quiet (< 1.00e-6 W/m^2)
   Active: Solar X-ray flux is active (>= 1.00e-6 W/m^2)
   M Class Flare: An M Class flare has occurred (X-ray flux >= 1.00e-5 W/m^2)
   X Class Flare: An X Class flare has occurred (X-ray flux >= 1.00e-4 W/m^2)
   Mega Flare: An unprecedented X-ray event has occurred (X-ray flux >= 1.00e-3 W/m^2)
The designation "Mega Flare" was chosen by Kevin Loch when the status monitor was created on March 4, 1999.  There is no "official" designation for flares in this range.
 

The Geomagnetic Field Status Monitor downloads data periodically from the NOAA Space Environment Center FTP server. The previous 24 hours of 3 hour Planetary Kp Index data is analyzed and an appropriate level of activity for the past 24 hours is assigned as follows:
   Quiet: the Geomagnetic Field is quiet (Kp < 4)
   Active: the Geomagnetic Field has been unsettled (Kp=4)
   Storm: A Geomagnetic Storm has occurred (Kp>4)
 

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