Ionosphere & Space Weather
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
Coverage: Global · Update frequency: Every 1-3 hours · Format: JSON/Text
Overview
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center monitors solar activity and its effects on Earth's ionosphere. Key indices include the Kp index (geomagnetic activity), solar flux (solar radio emission), and X-ray flux (solar flares).
How Sentinela Uses This Data
Space weather data is displayed in an info panel showing current conditions. We also display Total Electron Content (TEC) maps that show ionospheric density, which affects GPS accuracy and HF radio propagation.
Data Processing
We fetch space weather indices from SWPC and TEC maps from NASA. Data is displayed in real-time to help users understand current radio propagation and GPS conditions.
Limitations & Considerations
Space weather can change rapidly during solar events. TEC maps have limited resolution and are interpolated from GPS receiver data. Predictions beyond a few days have high uncertainty.