[Ips-dsgr] IPS Daily Report - 22 December 02

rwc rwc at ips.gov.au
Mon Dec 23 09:55:23 EST 2002


SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 22/2330Z DECEMBER 2002 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 22 DECEMBER AND FORECAST FOR 23 DECEMBER - 25 DECEMBER
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** YELLOW **   MAG:** RED **     ION: GREEN
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 22 Dec:  Moderate

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
M1.1/2F    0230UT  possible   lower  E. Asia/Aust.

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 22 Dec: 172/126

1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             23 Dec             24 Dec             25 Dec
Activity     Low to moderate    Low to moderate    Low to moderate
Fadeouts     Possible           Possible           Possible
10.7cm/SSN   170/124            165/119            160/114
COMMENT: Solar wind parameters show an increase (too slow to 
be a true shock) around 10UT with wind speed increasing from 
400 to 470km/sec. It is unclear if this is the expected CME shock 
signature, if so its is less than what was predicted. Curiously, 
ACE EPAM precursor data is currently showing an increasing trend, 
usually particle flux in this data channel drops after shock 
has past, so it is possible another shock may arrive in the next 
24 hours. The equatorial coronal hole in the Sun's eastern hemisphere 
appears reasonably large and is likely to be geoeffective around 
27 Dec. Solar region 223 now in north-west quadrant produced 
the only M class event for the day. This M1 was associated with 
reported Type II and IV radio sweeps implying a mass ejection 
has occured with this event. Event parameters indicate a potential 
shock arrival window 22UT on 24 Dec to 07UT on 25 Dec. Further 
isolated low level M class activity expected. 

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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 22 Dec: Quiet to Active 

Estimated Indices 22 Dec :  A   K           
   Australian Region      21   3123 5354
      Darwin              19   3223 5344
      Townsville          21   3123 5354
      Learmonth           28   2124 5-63
      Canberra            14   2213 4344
      Hobart              13   2113 4343
      Casey(Ant)          20   3--4 4243
    
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 22 DEC : 
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth            0   (Quiet)
      Canberra            59   (Unsettled)
      Hobart              55   (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 22 Dec : A 
           Fredericksburg        10
           Planetary             15                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 21 Dec :  A   K
           Fredericksburg        12
           Planetary             18   4532 3322     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
23 Dec    25    Active to minor storm periods. 
24 Dec    18    Active 
25 Dec    10    Initially active then declining. 
COMMENT: Coronal mass ejection induced geomagnetic activity not 
as strong as expected. However, further minor storm activity 
is possible today due to recent coronal mass ejection activity. 
Also, activity may be experienced on 24/25 Dec due to the M1 
inferred mass ejection. 

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

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
23 Dec      Fair           Fair           Fair-Poor
24 Dec      Normal         Normal         Normal-Fair
25 Dec      Normal         Normal         Normal-Fair
COMMENT: Coronal mass ejection induced activity not as strong 
as expected however, degraded conditions still expected today 
at mid to high latitudes, and may extended to 24 Dec due to recent 
inferred mass ejection. 
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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
22 Dec   155

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Equatorial PNG Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day,
      Enhanced by 25% during local night.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Enhanced by 20% during local day,
      Enhanced by 35% during local night.
   Southern Australian and New Zealand Region:
      Enhanced by 20% during local day,
      Enhanced by 30% during local night.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Scott Base):
      Near predicted monthly values over the UT day.


Predicted Monthly T index for December:  90

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
23 Dec   135    10 to 15% above predicted monthly values 
24 Dec   120    10 to 15% above predicted monthly values 
25 Dec   120    10 to 15% above predicted monthly values 
COMMENT: IPS HF Communications Warning 79 was issued on 21 December 
and is current for interval 22-23 December. So far coronal mass 
ejection induced geomagnetic activity has been less than expected. 
Depressed MUFs no longer expected for today, some mild depressions 
may be experienced southern Aus/NZ region. It is possible another 
shock may arrive today yielding degraded conditions late 23/24 
Dec. 
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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 21 Dec
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   1.1E+06
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  1.5E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 9.30E+05 (normal)
       X-ray background: B6.9
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 21 Dec
Speed: 463 km/sec  Density:    6.4 p/cc  Temp:    42800 K  Bz:   1 nT

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