NOAA / Space Weather Prediction Center

 

Global D-Region Absorption Prediction

World map of D-region frequency degredation

North Pole South Pole

Global D-Region Absorption Prediction became an official NWS product November 18 , 2009.
The original D-Region product was decommissioned.

Conditions in the D-Region of the Ionosphere have a dramatic effect on High Frequency (HF) communications and Low Frequency (LF) navigation systems like Loran. The global D-Region Absorption Product depicts the D-region at high latitudes where it is driven by particles as well as low latitudes, where photons cause the prompt changes. This product merges all latitudes using appropriate displays, and is useful to customers such as commercial aviation and maritime users. Note that at solar minimum, events are relatively rare and the map can remain colorless for months.

Documentation    Tabular Values    Latest X-ray Flux Plot   Latest Proton Flux Plot   Black Background  

Product Description Document