The K-index

The K-index is a code that is related to the maximum fluctuations of horizontal components observed on a magnetometer relative to a quiet day, during a three-hour interval. The conversion table from maximum fluctuation (nT) to K-index, varies from observatory to observatory in such a way that the historical rate of occurrence of certain levels of K are about the same at all observatories. In practice this means that observatories at higher geomagnetic latitude require higher levels of fluctuation for a given K-index. The conversion table for the Boulder magnetometer is shown below:

K
nT
0
0-5
1
5-10
2
10-20
3
20-40
4
40-70
5
70-120
6
120-200
7
200-330
8
330-500
9
>500

At SEC, we monitor the preliminary values of the K-index, minute by minute, and we notify our rapid alert customers when we exceed critical thresholds of 6, 7, and 8. The final real-time K-index is determined after the end of prescribed three hourly intervals (0000-0300, 0300-0600, ..., 2100-2400) and is used on our announcements and appears on our web site. The maximum positive and negative deviations during the 3-hour period are added together to determine the total maximum fluctuation. These maximum deviations may occur anytime during the 3-hour period.

The relationship between K, Kp, and estimated Kp

The official planetary Kp index is derived by calculating a weighted average of K-indices from a network of geomagnetic observatories. Since these observatories do not report their data in real-time, it is necessary for an operations center such as ourselves to make the best estimate we can of this index based on available data. Space weather operations uses near real-time estimates of the Kp index which are derived by the U.S. Air Force 55th Space Weather Squadron. These estimated of Kp are based on a network of observatories reporting in near real-time. Most of the observatories are in North America, although there is one European station also contributing at this time (Hartland, UK).

The relationship between K and A

The A-index was invented because there was a need to derive some kind of daily average level for geomagnetic activity. Because of the non-linear relationship of the K-scale to magnetometer fluctuations, it is not meaningful to take averages of a set of K indices. What is done instead is to convert each K back into a linear scale called the "equivalent three hourly range" a-index (note the lower case). The daily A index is merely the average of eight "a" indices. The following table illustrates the conversion between K and "a":

K
a
0
0
1
3
2
7
3
15
4
27
5
48
6
80
7
140
8
240
9
400

Thus, for example, if the K indices for the day were 3 4 6 5 3 2 2 1, the daily A index is the average of the equivalent amplitudes:

        A = (15 + 27 + 80 + 48 + 15 + 7 + 7 + 3)/8 = 25.25

The relationship between the NOAA G-scale and Kp

The Kp scale is a reasonable way to summarize the global level of geomagnetic activity, but it has not always been easy for those affected by the space environment to understand its significance. The NOAA G-scale was designed to correspond, in a straightforward way, to the significance of effects of geomagnetic storms. We use estimates of the planetary average Kp index in our operations to determine Geomagnetic Storm (NOAA Space Weather Scale) level, as follows:

Kp-index NOAA Space Weather Scale
Geomagnetic Storm Lever
Kp=5
G1
Kp=6
G2
Kp=7
G3
Kp=8
G4
Kp=9
G5

Kp of 0 to 4 is below storm, which we label is G0.

Limitations

Due to real-time requirements for the information, our alerts have to be based on measurements from a local magnetometer, just north of Boulder. This usually works fine because magnetometers are very sensitive devices, but there is the possibility that on occasion we may detect a highly localized disturbance and overestimate the global level of activity. By the same token it can occasionally happen that a highly localized disturbance will affect a customer's region of operations, and yet the severity of the disturbance is underestimated by our measurements. The NOAA scale describes effects for various levels of activity, but with regards to geomagnetic activity, it needs to be kept in mind that there can be differences in the response that are a function of the location of the user.

Christopher.Balch@noaa.gov