[Ips-dsgr] IPS Daily Report - 24 October 03

rwc rwc at ips.gov.au
Sat Oct 25 08:18:20 EST 2003


SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 24/2330Z OCTOBER 2003 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 24 OCTOBER AND FORECAST FOR 25 OCTOBER - 27 OCTOBER
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** RED **   MAG:** RED **     ION: ** RED **
-----------------------------------------------------------
1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 24 Oct:  High

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
  M7.6    0255UT  probable   lower  E. Asia/Aust.
  M4.2    0510UT  possible   lower  E. Asia/Aust.
  M1.3    1858UT  possible   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American
  M1.0    2140UT  possible   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 24 Oct: 191/143

1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             25 Oct             26 Oct             27 Oct
Activity     High               High               High
Fadeouts     Probable           Probable           Probable
10.7cm/SSN   190/143            195/147            200/152
COMMENT: Solar region 486 produced the M7.7 flare at 0255UT. 
This region is located at S16E60. A Type IV radio sweep was observed 
on the Culgoora radio spectrograph following this flare, suggesting 
a mass ejection. US SOHO coronagraph imagery showed an eastward 
non earth directed mass ejection. US Big Bear Observatory advises 
that 486 has developed further magnetic compexity and X class 
flares seem probable from this region. Solar region 486 located 
at N04W08 whilst not as flare productive as 486 remains magnetically 
complex and still has good flare potential. The location of 484, 
just past the solar central meridian is a very geoeffective location 
for any activity. A strong shock was observed in the solar wind 
at 1448UT with solar wind speed increasing from 426 to 570 km/sec. 
The magnetopause appeared to cross inside geosynchronous orbit 
at time of impact. The north-south component of the interplanetary 
magnetic field fluctuated southward at time of CME impact, but 
has now become prodominately northward, ie the Bz "storm switch" 
is currently "off". It is not clear, but this shock is presumed 
to have been from the activity around 484 on 22 Oct, and another 
mass ejection remains possibly enroute from the recent X5 event from 
region 486 on 23 Oct. Solar 10MeV proton flux levels remain mildly 
enhanced following recent flare activity. 

-----------------------------------------------------------
2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 24 Oct: Quiet to Severe Storm Levels 

Estimated Indices 24 Oct :  A   K           
   Australian Region      37   2233 4755
      Darwin               -   ---- ----
      Townsville          28   3322 4655
      Learmonth           34   1222 5745
      Culgoora            25   1222 4655
      Canberra            26   1232 4654
      Hobart              53   0233 5854
      Casey(Ant)          42   3-44 4664
    
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 24 OCT : 
      Townsville          NA
      Learmonth            0   (Quiet)
      Culgoora             6   (Quiet)
      Canberra            22   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Hobart              19   (Quiet)
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 24 Oct : A 
           Fredericksburg        35
           Planetary             40                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 23 Oct :  A   K
           Fredericksburg         5
           Planetary              7   3222 2222     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
25 Oct    30    Initially at minor storm levels then declining. 
26 Oct    50    Storm levels if another mass jection arrives
27 Oct    25    Active to minor storm 
COMMENT: IPS Geomagnetic Warning 48 was issued on 22 October 
and is current for interval 24-25 October. The first of two mass 
ejections has arrived. A moderate (74nT) impulse was observed in 
the IPS magnetomter data at 1525UT on 24 Oct. The north south 
component of the interplantary magnetic field was southward 
immediately following shock arrival but has now swung strongly 
northward, a state that decreases geomagnetic activity. If 
this orientation is maintained geomagnetic activity is 
expected to rapidly ease today. However, another mass ejection 
is possible first half of the UT day on 26 Oct. This is not 
certain as one shock may have overtaken the other. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
24 Oct      Normal         Normal-poor    Normal-poor    
PCA Event : No event. Increased absoprtion from enhaanced,
	    but below event level, solar proton flux.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
25 Oct      Fair-normal    Fair           Poor-fair     
26 Oct      Normal-fair    Normal-poor    Fair-poor     
27 Oct      Normal         Fair           Poor-fair     
COMMENT: Degraded HF conditions at mid to high latitudes expected 
next three days. Transpolar HF circuits may also experience increased 
absorption due to 10MeV proton enhancement. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
24 Oct    79

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Equatorial PNG Region:
      Enhanced by 15% during local day,
      Enhanced by 45% during local night.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day,
      Enhanced by 45% during local night.
   Southern Australian and New Zealand Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day,
      Enhanced by 40% during local night.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Scott Base):
      Near predicted monthly values 00-06UT.
      Depressed 15-20% later in UT day, spread F
      and absorption observed.


Predicted Monthly T index for October:  55

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
25 Oct    55    near predicted monthly values (North Aus)
25 Oct    25    20 to 40% below/near predicted monthly values (south Aus/NZ)
26 Oct    35    10 to 20% below predicted monthly values 
27 Oct    45    depressed 10 to 15%/near predicted monthly values 
COMMENT: IPS HF Communications Warning 74 was issued on 22 October 
and is current for interval 24-25 October. Depressed MUFs expected 
early in UT day today then recovering. Depression followed 
geomagnetic activity associated with mass ejection impact. Another 
mass ejection is expected on 26 Oct. Depressed conditions on 26
Oct if this mass ejection arrives.
Note: Frequent flares and shortwave fadeouts are expected today. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 23 Oct
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   7.5E+06
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  6.4E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 1.20E+08 (moderate)
       X-ray background: C3.0
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 23 Oct
Speed: 483 km/sec  Density:    2.7 p/cc  Temp:    13800 K  Bz:   7 nT

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