[Ips-dsgr] IPS Daily Report - 16 December 02

rwc rwc at ips.gov.au
Tue Dec 17 10:27:11 EST 2002


SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 16/2330Z DECEMBER 2002 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 16 DECEMBER AND FORECAST FOR 17 DECEMBER - 19 DECEMBER
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** YELLOW **   MAG:** RED **     ION: GREEN
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 16 Dec:  Moderate

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
  M2.6    1115UT  possible   lower  European
  M2.1    2257UT  possible   lower  West Pacific

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 16 Dec: 203/154

1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             17 Dec             18 Dec             19 Dec
Activity     Moderate           Moderate           Moderate
Fadeouts     Possible           Possible           Possible
10.7cm/SSN   200/152            200/152            195/147
COMMENT: Solar region 225 (N17E32) produced the M2.6 event. A 
Type II (428km/sec) and IV radio sweep was reported at 1136UT. 
This radio signature implies a mass ejection. It is unclear whether 
or not the radio data was associated with the M2 or a south-west 
directed, apparent backside mass ejection, visible in LASCO imagery 
around the same time. There appeared to be little ejecta activity 
around the north east, where this region is located. So either 
the M2.6 and radio sweep information are associated and the mass 
ejection did not escape the Sun, or the M2.6 and radio sweep 
data are disconnected events. Either way it appears that a shock 
is not to be expected. (A blind shock arrival prediction based 
on radio data is 09-17UT on 19 Dec). No radio sweep was 
observed with the M2.1 event near 23UT. Further M class events probable. 
Solar wind speed is declining and now moderately elevated at 
450km/sec. Bz has remained mildly northward over the UT day. 
A coronal hole is visible now just west of the solar central 
meridian. 
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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 16 Dec: Quiet 

Estimated Indices 16 Dec :  A   K           
   Australian Region       5   2122 2213
      Darwin               5   2122 2213
      Townsville           4   1121 2113
      Learmonth            5   2122 2113
      Canberra             5   2221 2112
      Hobart               6   2232 1112
      Casey(Ant)          11   ---- 331-
    
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 16 DEC : 
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth            0   (Quiet)
      Canberra            12   (Quiet)
      Hobart              27   (Quiet to unsettled)
Pc3 pulsations are high frequency (10-45 second period) variations 
of the Earths magnetic field. Daily pc3 indices are the daily sum 
of 20 minute pc3 indices for that station.

Estimated AFr/Ap Indices 16 Dec : A 
           Fredericksburg         5
           Planetary              8                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 15 Dec :  A   K
           Fredericksburg         5
           Planetary              9   3222 3332     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
17 Dec    10    Quiet to Unsettled 
18 Dec    25    Active to minor storm 
19 Dec    20    Unsettled to Active 
COMMENT: IPS Geomagnetic Warning 44 was issued on 15 December 
and is current for interval 18-19 December. A coronal hole is 
expected to cause active to minor storm conditions on 18 Dec. 

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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
16 Dec      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair    
PCA Event : No event.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
17 Dec      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair   
18 Dec      Normal         Normal-fair    Fair-poor     
19 Dec      Normal         Fair-normal    Poor-fair     
COMMENT: Degraded conditions expected mid to high latitudes 18 
Dec due to coronal hole induced activity. 
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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
16 Dec   145

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Equatorial PNG Region:
      Enhanced by 15-20% during local day,
   Northern Australian Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day,
      Enhanced by 35% during local night.
   Southern Australian and New Zealand Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day,
      Enhanced by 30% during local night.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Scott Base):
      Enhanced by 20% over the UT day.


Predicted Monthly T index for December:  90

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
17 Dec   130    10 to 15% above predicted monthly values 
18 Dec    80    near predicted monthly values/depressed 10 to 
                15% 
19 Dec    80    depressed 10 to 15%/near predicted monthly values 
COMMENT: IPS HF Communications Warning 77 was issued on 15 December 
and is current for interval 18-19 December. Isolated shortwave 
fadeout activity expected. Degraded conditions expected around 
18 Dec due to anticapated coronal hole induced geomagnetic activity. 
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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 15 Dec
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   1.1E+06
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  1.3E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 6.70E+05 (normal)
       X-ray background: C1.1
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 15 Dec
Speed: 504 km/sec  Density:    1.8 p/cc  Temp:   169000 K  Bz:   6 nT

(Courtesy Space Environment Center, Boulder USA)
ACE data can be incorrect during strong proton events.
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