[Elecraft] Elevated Ap

[Rod N0RC]

Folks,

A few days ago someone asked [on the Elecraft Reflector] about where we
were in the solar cycle. I pointed out a chart at:
http://sec.noaa.gov/SolarCycle/

It didn't strike me until later how the last graph demonstrated an
increase in the Ap index. I've been poking around various space-WX/solar
sites trying (without success) to answer some questions:

1.  Is this elevated Ap index typical of a post solar-max cycle?

2.  Will the Ap continue to rise until the solar-min?

3.  Ap & K indices are interrelated (K is a function of A), so why
hasn't the K index been elevated?

4.  For the last several months I've noticed an increase in the QRN
level at my QTH. Does this elevated Ap index account for the uptick in
QRN? (I thought my urban, RF polluted, environment was the cause,
starting to wonder now)

5.  Is there any literature available that discusses all this in
layman's terms?

TIA

--
73, Rod N0RC