[Ips-dsgr] IPS Daily Report - 19 March 03

rwc rwc at ips.gov.au
Thu Mar 20 10:40:03 EST 2003


SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 19/2330Z MARCH 2003 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 19 MARCH AND FORECAST FOR 20 MARCH - 22 MARCH
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:* YELLOW *   MAG:* YELLOW *     ION: GREEN
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 19 Mar:  Moderate

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
 M3/1N    0953UT  possible   lower  Mid East/Indian

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 19 Mar: 108/58


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             20 Mar             21 Mar             22 Mar
Activity     Moderate           Moderate           Moderate
Fadeouts     Possible           Possible           Possible
10.7cm/SSN   105/54             100/48             100/48
COMMENT: There have been several C and M-class flares over the 
past 24 hours, the most significant being an M3.7 level event 
at 0934UT. Most of this activity has originated from Active Region 
314, now located close to the west solar limb. A type II radio 
sweep was observed at 0223UT on the Culgoora and Learmonth spectrographs, 
with a reported shock in the lower speed range. LASCO imagery 
showed a minor CME early in the UT day. This appeared south-west 
directed, probably originating from Region 314. It does not appear 
to be geoeffective. High speed coronal hole wind stream effects 
are persisting, although solar wind speed decreased from 750 
to 650 km/s over the first half of the UT day. Further C and 
M class activity is possible from region 314 today, after which 
it will have rotated off the visible solar disk. Proton flux 
showed a significant upward trend over the UT day. 

ACE EPAM data indicates an energetic ion enhancement event beginning 
19/1625UT, which can be a precursor to increased geomagnetic 
activity over next 24-36 hours. 

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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 19 Mar: Quiet to Unsettled 

Estimated Indices 19 Mar :  A   K           
   Australian Region       9   3322 2223
      Darwin              12   3332 2333
      Townsville           9   3322 2224
      Learmonth            9   3322 2222
      Canberra             -   ---- ----
      Hobart               9   3322 2224
      Casey(Ant)          19   35-3 3323
    
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 19 MAR : 
      Townsville          15   (Quiet)
      Learmonth           33   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Canberra            NA
      Hobart             140   (Severe storm)
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 19 Mar : A 
           Fredericksburg        12
           Planetary             15                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 18 Mar :  A   K
           Fredericksburg        16
           Planetary             26   4445 4333     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
20 Mar    20    active 
21 Mar    15    Unsettled to Active 
22 Mar    15    Unsettled to Active 
COMMENT: IPS Geomagnetic Warning 8 was issued on 16 March and 
is current for interval 18-20 March. Coronal hole induced activity 
was observed during the early part of the UT day at high latitudes 
only. Active-minor storm conditions are possible today. Also, 
weak shock signatures may be observed 20-21 Mar due to recent 
mass ejection events. 

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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
19 Mar      Normal         Fair-normal    Fair           
PCA Event : No event.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
20 Mar      Normal         Normal-Fair    Fair
21 Mar      Normal         Normal         Normal-Fair
22 Mar      Normal         Normal         Normal-Fair
COMMENT: Increased absorption was observed at mid to high latitudes 
due to proton flux enhancement following recent X-class solar 
flares. Periods of disturbance were observed at high latitudes 
due to coronal hole induced geomagnetic activity. Coronal hole 
effects are expected to decline after 20 Mar. There is a possibility 
of SWF's today and tomorrow due to recent solar flare activity. 
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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
19 Mar    78

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


Predicted Monthly T index for March:  82

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
20 Mar    75    depressed 10 to 20%/near predicted monthly values 
21 Mar    85    near predicted monthly values 
22 Mar   100    Near predicted monthly values 
COMMENT: IPS HF Communications Warning 22 was issued on 18 March 
and is current for interval 19-20 March. Genreally lower than 
normal MUFs expected for southern Aus and NZ region after local 
dawn over next few days. These conditions are expected due to 
coronal hole high speed wind stream induced geomagnetic activity, 
with the possibility of superimposed weak mass ejection signatures. 
Short wave fadeouts are possible due to enhanced proton flux. 
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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 18 Mar
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   4.0E+06
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  2.2E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 1.90E+08 (moderate)
       X-ray background: B4.2
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 18 Mar
Speed: 774 km/sec  Density:    0.9 p/cc  Temp:   299000 K  Bz:   0 nT

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