MOTM

--- In motm@yahoogroups.com, "Roger Rossen" <mididood@a...> wrote:
> One last thing before snooze time:
> Do you remember, as a child, being forwarned of such catastrophy 
from 
> the sun?  I don't recall it personally - why is it so important 
now?  
> Have we been going about this 'electronics thing' all WRONG?'

Solar surface activity is directly related to ionospheric density and 
flow around our planet.  Greater solar activity increases the density 
of the ionosphere.  As the density increases, higher frequency 
electromagnetic waves are reflected.

If you are operating a land-based radio system, this can be a good 
thing as your signal will be reflected back down to earth at a fairly 
predictable angle.  Satelite signals, however, may not make it to 
their intended targets.  If the communication signal frequency is 
lower than what the ionospheric density will allow to pass, it will 
be reflected or absorbed.

Large solar flares are quite common, really.  Big ones create 
greater "atmospheric" noise by putting electromagnetic energy that 
constant bombards us into wilder motion and contantly changing 
ionospheric density (among other weird phenomena)and this makes 
communication quite difficult.  Solar activity is rather predictable-
like the tides-and we are just coming off of a peak of an 11-year 
cycle.  Given that, this sort of flare-up is to be expected.

Why is this a big deal in the media?  Simple, Brittany Spears hasn't 
done anything interesting this week!

Chub-surfing the ionsphere and, trust me, longboards RULE!