[Ips-dsgr] IPS Daily Report - 23 December 02

rwc rwc at ips.gov.au
Tue Dec 24 10:20:36 EST 2002


SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 23/2330Z DECEMBER 2002 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 23 DECEMBER AND FORECAST FOR 24 DECEMBER - 26 DECEMBER
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:GREEN   MAG:** YELLOW **     ION: **RED**
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 23 Dec:  Low

Flares: none.

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 23 Dec: 159/113


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             24 Dec             25 Dec             26 Dec
Activity     Low to moderate    Low                Low
Fadeouts     Possible           None expected      None expected
10.7cm/SSN   150/105            145/99             140/94
COMMENT: The north-south component of the interplanetary magnetic 
field was moderately southward for the first half of the UT day. 
A jump in solar wind speed and temperature was observed near 
10 UT with (500 to 600 km/sec), speed now is 500km/sec. Another 
weak shock signature from the recent M1/CME may be observed late 
24/25 Dec. Most of the solar sunspot groups are now on the western 
solar hemisphere, with the sun looking fairly blank on the eastern 
hemisphere. Solar activity is thus expected to trend to low levels 
as recent flaring regions depart the solar disk in the next few 
days, and with the apparent lack of intersting regions due for 
return. The large isolated equatorial coronal hole (South American 
shaped) visible in SOHO EIT 284 imagery is now approaching solar 
central meridian. An increase in solar wind speed is expected 
27-28 Dec. This hole is expected to be geoeffective, as recurrence 
shows a mildly southward IMF on previous rotations during this 
interval. 



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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 23 Dec: Unsettled to Active 

Estimated Indices 23 Dec :  A   K           
   Australian Region      20   3334 4344
      Darwin              19   3234 4344
      Townsville          17   2234 4343
      Learmonth           17   3324 3433
      Canberra            20   3344 4244
      Hobart              14   2343 3234
      Casey(Ant)          19   4--3 3345
    
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 23 DEC : 
      Townsville          17   (Quiet)
      Learmonth            6   (Quiet)
      Canberra            64   (Active)
      Hobart              78   (Active)
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 23 Dec : A 
           Fredericksburg        18
           Planetary             20                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 22 Dec :  A   K
           Fredericksburg         9
           Planetary             12   2223 3342     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
24 Dec    18    Initially active then declining. 
25 Dec    14    Unsettled to active, chance minor storm period. 
26 Dec    14    Initially unsettled, possible mild increase to 
                active at end of UT day. 
COMMENT: IPS Geomagnetic Warning 46 was issued on 23 December 
and is current for interval 23-24 December. Moderately disturbed 
conditions observed over past 24 hours. Active to minor storm 
periods may be experienced late 24/25 Dec due to the recent M1 
mass ejection. A stronger disturbance is possible during interval 
27-28Dec due to a large equatorial coronal hole. 

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

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
24 Dec      Normal         Normal-Fair    Fair
25 Dec      Normal         Normal         Normal-Fair
26 Dec      Normal         Normal         Normal-Fair
COMMENT: Degraded conditions observed at mid to high latitudes 
overnight. Conditions are expected to improve over next copule 
of days, before becoming degraded again 27-28Dec due to anticipated 
coronal hole induced geomagnetic activity. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
23 Dec   134

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


Predicted Monthly T index for December:  90

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
24 Dec    75    depressed 15% (south Aus/NZ) 
24 Dec   135    enhanced 15% (north Aus)
25 Dec   130    10 to 15% above predicted monthly values 
26 Dec   130    10 to 15% above predicted monthly values 
COMMENT: IPS HF Communications Warning 80 was issued on 23 December 
and is current for interval 24 December only. Depressed MUFs 
expected for southern Aus/NZ region today, following overnight 
geomagnetic activity. Mufs then expected to recover. Further 
degraded period expected around 28 Dec. 
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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 22 Dec
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   1.4E+06
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  1.7E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 3.40E+06 (normal)
       X-ray background: B8.6
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 22 Dec
Speed: 460 km/sec  Density:    4.8 p/cc  Temp:    32800 K  Bz:   3 nT

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