DYK: The Solar Cycle (☀️🚴♂️) has a huge impact on HF radio propagation. This cycle is looking to be one of best cycles for propagation in decades and we are going to soon be entering the peak of the cycle. If you were on the fence about getting your ham radio license or upgrading your license to do HF, perhaps this will provide you some FOMO to get on it now.
Digging Deeper: The solar cycle is an approximately 11-year cycle in which the Sun's magnetic activity fluctuates, causing variations in solar phenomena like sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). During the solar maximum, the Sun is most active, with a higher number of sunspots and solar flares. In contrast, the solar minimum features fewer sunspots and reduced solar activity.
The impact on radio communications, especially in the high-frequency (HF) range (3 to 30 MHz), is significant. During the solar maximum, increased solar activity enhances the ionosphere's ability to reflect HF radio waves, improving long-distance communication. However, solar flares and CMEs can cause sudden ionospheric disturbances, leading to radio blackouts and disruptions in navigation and communication systems. Conversely, during the solar minimum, while there are fewer disruptions, the ionosphere's reduced ionization can limit long-distance HF radio propagation.
