Why does space weather affect ham radio?
Space weather, caused by solar activities like flares and coronal mass ejections (CME), affects ham radio communications. These solar events send out bursts of X-ray radiation (solar flares) and charged particles. When the the flares and particles reach Earth, they mess with the ionosphere, a crucial region for ham radio operators. The ionosphere bounces skywaves back to Earth, helping with long-distance communication. Solar storms can change the ionosphere's properties, making radio signals weaker, unpredictable, or completely disrupted. That's why ham radio operators monitor space weather to predict and reduce these issues, ensuring smoother communication.
See also an index of terms for HF Radio propagation.The project "Understanding HF Propagation" provides a detailed overview and tutorials on HF propagation.