K-Index?

[Vermiform]

This is the first I've heard of it and want to know more. What is it, what does it mean to a pilot, what is good and what is bad?

 

[jbrumberg]

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/planetary-k-index

The K Index is a measure of the strength of geomagnetic storms which can affect GPS and HF radio communications and satellite communications.

 

[Vermiform]

Does it vary much by your location?

 

[SleepyC]

Does it vary much by your location?

Very's every day by the rotation of the earth, sun flares etc... there have ben days where it was CRAZY high and people reported many issues... could be a coincidence or it could be the EVIL K INDEX!

 

[jbrumberg]

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

Is one of many sites that track the daily variations in the geomagnetic field caused by solar activity.

 

[Benjamin Kenobi]

I've flown on high K-index days, no issues.

 

[Vermiform]

So do most pilots pay attention to the forecasts on that site? What numbers should I be wary of? Does my location matter?

 

[jbrumberg]

I do not really worry about it myself. My interest in this K- index is driven by my weather geekiness. I probably would not fly on those "High Coronal Mass Ejections" event days, but they are always reported in the news media nowadays.

 

[Benjamin Kenobi]

Expect GPS hold to not be as accurate on high K days.

Commercial airplanes use GPS quite heavily these days and there's been very little talk of problems.