XPost: rec.radio.info

CQ Newsroom

///////////////////////////////////////////
Shifting Gears (Again) on 3Y0J DXpedition

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:36 AM PDT http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2021/08/shifting-gears-again-on-3y0j-dxpedition.html

There's bad news and good news on the long-planned (but currently
cancelled) 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island. We reported last month that
the Intrepid DX Group was working to figure out a way that Nigel Jolly,
K6NRJ, could continue to be captain of the Bravehearteven though he had to
sell the charter vessel because of Covid cancellations. Apparently, that
didn't work out, but the ARRL reported in early August that the group had
found a "suitable and affordable" vessel whose captain was willing to make
the trip to the subantarctic island. The new team of up to 12 operators
will be led jointly by David Jorgensen, WD5COV, and Kevin Rowett, K6TD.
We'll keep you posted on their progress.

///////////////////////////////////////////
Shifting Sands (??) on the Sun

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:33 AM PDT http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2021/08/shifting-sands-on-sun.html


(NASA satellite image)
Just as there have been disagreements among predictions for the strength
and length of Solar Cycle 25, there are also disagreements about the significance of recent trends. In early August, spaceweather.com reported
that the cycle was "heating up faster than expected," based on July's
sunspot counts, and said that if the trend continues, it could mean that we reach solar maximum in October 2024, a year ahead of the "official"
forecast from the NOAA/NASA Solar Cycle Prediction Panel.
That panel predicted that Cycle 25 would be very similar to the very weak
Cycle 24, but a sharper rise could suggest a stronger cycle to come. On the other hand, the Solar Terrestrial Activity Report (www.solen.info) suggests that so far, Cycle 25 is very closely tracking Cycle 24, as predicted by
the NOAA/NASA panel. See <https://tinyurl.com/5f6vp66x>.

///////////////////////////////////////////
NOAA Issues Slight Adjustment to 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Forecast

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:27 AM PDT http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2021/08/noaa-issues-slight-adjustment-to-2021.html


Hurricane season runs through November 30.
NOAA says to expect 15-21 named storms and
7-10 hurricanes this year. (NOAA file photo)

In its mid-season update, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) made a slight upward revision in its forecast for the current Atlantic hurricane season, which runs through November 30.
The Climate Prediction Center now says we should expect 15-21 named storms
this season, vs. 13-20 in its previous forecast. Of those it is expected
that 7-10 will develop into hurricanes (vs. 6-10) and 3-5 are likely to
become major hurricanes of category 3 or higher (wind speeds of at least
111 miles per hour). The major hurricane prediction is unchanged from the previous forecast.

Radio amateurs have long been part of the response to tropical storms and hurricanes and there is a permanent amateur station, WX4NHC, at the
National Hurricane Center.

///////////////////////////////////////////
Hams Respond to Major Flooding in Western Europe

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 09:19 AM PDT http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2021/08/hams-respond-to-major-flooding-in.html


Hams have been part of the response to widespread flooding in Germany,
Belgium and the Netherlands. According to the ARRL Letter and
International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 (representing Europe, Africa and
the Middle East), the flooding was caused by unprecedented heavy rainfall
and has been responsible for at least 120 deaths. Amateur radio emergency groups in all three countries have a mutual aid arrangement and have been coordinating with each other.

Hams in Belgium were asked to provide a backup VHF link between the
emergency call center in the capital city of Brussels and the hard-hit
province of Hainaut. Other groups have been on standby to respond as
needed, although it was pointed out that many hams in the affected areas
were flood victims as well.

///////////////////////////////////////////
ARRL Board Creates Permanent EmComm and Field Services Committee

Posted: 12 Aug 2021 08:35 AM PDT http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2021/08/arrl-board-creates-permanent-emcomm-and.html


The ARRL Board of Directors voted in July to create a standing board
committee on emergency communications and field services (the umbrella name
for the League's nationwide network of volunteer appointees). The
committee's primary role will be to advise the board on changing or adding League policies and programs related to emergency communications through
its Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and National Traffic System
(NTS). It will also work with League staff to provide greater support to
Field Organization volunteers around the country.

The ARRL Letter reports that this is only the third standing board
committee, along with the Programs and Services and Administration and
Finance committees. Roanoke Division Director George "Bud" Hippisley, W2RU, will chair the committee. Other appointments had not been made as of press time. (We will cover this in more detail in October CQ's Emergency Communications column.)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)