An overview of the radio observations during December 2018 is given.

 

The graphs show both the daily totals (Figure 1) and the hourly numbers (Figure 2) of “all” reflections counted automatically, and of manually counted “overdense” reflections, overdense reflections longer than 10 seconds and longer than 1 minute, as observed here at Kampenhout (BE) on the frequency of our VVS-beacon (49.99 MHz) during the month of December 2018.

The hourly numbers, for echoes shorter than 1 minute, are weighted averages derived from:

N(h) = n(h-1)/4 + n(h)/2 + n(h+1)/4

During this month there were few local disturbances, no registered “sporadic E” (Es) nor was there lightning activity.

Highlights of the month were of course the Geminids. – see also Figure 3 for the period 7-17 December 2018. The shower was very interesting, with as expected a large number of underdense and short overdense echoes, but with a rather unexpected  outburst of longer overdenses on December 14/15th. Figures 4, 5 and 6 are typical examples of both.

The Ursids were certainly interesting but much less numerous than e.g. in 2017, with as usually an fair number of overdense echoes which is mainly reflected in the daily totals.

Also the beginning of the month was rich in reflections, both underdense and overdense, but these will have to be investigated further along with the rest of the month.

If you are interested in the actual figures, please send me an e-mail:  felix.verbelen at skynet.be.

 

Figure 1 – The daily totals of “all” reflections counted automatically, and of manually counted “overdense” reflections, overdense reflections longer than 10 seconds and longer than 1 minute, as observed here at Kampenhout (BE) on the frequency of our VVS-beacon (49.99 MHz) during December 2018.

Figure 2 – The hourly numbers of “all” reflections counted automatically, and of manually counted “overdense” reflections, overdense reflections longer than 10 seconds and longer than 1 minute, as observed here at Kampenhout (BE) on the frequency of our VVS-beacon (49.99 MHz) during December 2018.

Figure 3 – The Geminids 2018 activity.

 

Figure 4 – Example of typical Geminid underdense and overdense echos, night of December 12-13 2018.

 

Figure 5 – Example of the outburst of overdense echos from the Geminids in the night of December 14-15, 2018.

 

Figure 6 – Example of the outburst of overdense echos from the Geminids in the night of December 14-15, 2018.