What is my Kp index?
The Kp-index is the global geomagnetic activity index that is based on 3-hour measurements from ground-based magnetometers around the world. The Kp-index ranges from 0 to 9 where a value of 0 means that there is very little geomagnetic activity and a value of 9 means extreme geomagnetic storming.
What is a good Kp index?
To do this, you’ll check an index called Kp, a number from 0–9, which is used to rate the global geomagnetic activity for a 3-hour period. If the Kp is 5 or greater, the better your chances of seeing an aurora. Bars in red have a Kp over 4, indicating a better chance of aurora activity.
Why is it called Kp index?
The Kp index comes from the German words “planetarische kennziffer”, which translate loosely to “planetary index number” and was introduced by Julius Bartels in 1938. The Kp index is set by averaging these 13 K-values. The map to the right shows the locations of the 13 current stations used to calculate the Kp index.
What does planetary A index mean?
A index. The A-index is calculated for individual magnetometer stations. The value is calculated as the average of eight, three-hourly station ak-indices observed during a UT day, and provides a single, average value to indicate the activity level for that day.
What is Kp index for Aurora?
0 to 9
In order to know whether you have a chance of seeing an aurora, you need to know the level of geomagnetic activity at the time you are viewing. There is a simple index called Kp, a number from 0 to 9, which is used to refer to geomagnetic activity for a 3-hour period.
How high does the Kp index go?
The Kp index measures the global strength of a geomagnetic event. It goes from 0 to 9, respectively quiet and extreme storm.
What does KP 7 mean?
Strong storm
Kp 7 – Strong storm – Bright, dynamic and colourful aurorae. Visible in the southern sky. Aurora coronae very likely. Kp 8 – Severe storm – Bright, dynamic and colourful aurorae.
What is KP forecast?
There is a simple index called Kp, a number from 0 to 9, which is used to refer to geomagnetic activity for a 3-hour period. Check the Space Weather Prediction Center’s bar plot of Estimated Planetary Kp to see what has been happening during the past couple of days.
What is KP in space weather?
The planetary 3-hour-range index Kp is the mean standardized K-index from 13 geomagnetic observatories between 44 degrees and 60 degrees northern or southern geomagnetic latitude. The label ‘K’ comes from the German word ‘Kennziffer’ meaning ‘characteristic digit.’ The K-index was introduced by Julius Bartels in 1938.
What is Kp index drone?
The Kp index (or K-index) is used to quantify the geomagnetic disturbances of the earth. A low Kp index means a calm geomagnetic activity while a high means a magnetic storm. The Kp Index is based on the maximum fluctuations of horizontal components observed on a magnetometer during an interval of 3 hours.
Is higher Kp better for Northern Lights?
It is important, however, to remember that the Northern Lights appears most frequently at high latitudes. This is because Kp1, Kp2 and, to a lesser extent, Kp3 are by far the most common levels of geomagnetic activity. Essentially, that is where you have the very best chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
What is the range of the Kp index?
The Kp-index ranges from 0 to 9 where a value of 0 means that there is very little geomagnetic activity and a value of 9 means extreme geomagnetic storming.
Why is the Kp index so important to SWPC?
The K-index, and by extension the Planetary K-index, are used to characterize the magnitude of geomagnetic storms. Kp is an excellent indicator of disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field and is used by SWPC to decide whether geomagnetic alerts and warnings need to be issued for users who are affected by these disturbances.
What does the Kp index on a solar wind mean?
Kp-index. The Kp-index describes the disturbance of the Earth’s magnetic field caused by the solar wind. The faster the solar wind blows, the greater the turbulence. The index ranges from 0, for low activity, to 9, which means that an intense geomagnetic storm is under way.
What is the purpose of the planetary K index?
Planetary K-index. The K-index, and by extension the Planetary K-index, are used to characterize the magnitude of geomagnetic storms. Kp is an excellent indicator of disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field and is used by SWPC to decide whether geomagnetic alerts and warnings need to be issued for users who are affected by these disturbances.