[Ips-dsgr] IPS Daily Report - 28 October 03

rwc rwc at ips.gov.au
Wed Oct 29 10:13:03 EST 2003


SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 28/2330Z OCTOBER 2003 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 28 OCTOBER AND FORECAST FOR 29 OCTOBER - 31 OCTOBER
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** RED **   MAG:** RED **     ION: ** RED **
-----------------------------------------------------------
1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 28 Oct:  High

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
X17/4B    1110UT  probable   all    European

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 28 Oct: 274/226


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             29 Oct             30 Oct             31 Oct
Activity     High               High               High
Fadeouts     Probable           Probable           Probable
10.7cm/SSN   270/221            260/210            250/200
COMMENT: Solar region 486 (S16E07) produced an X17/4B (Y1.7) parallel 
ribbon flare at 1110UT. All the geoeffective indicators are "ticked" 
with this event. The event was associated with a bright/fast full-halo 
coronal mass ejection (~2000km/sec), and an intense proton event 
which began at 1215UT on all energy levels (10,50,100 MeV). This 
mass ejection's Sun-Earth flight time is expected to be faster than 
normal due to speed of ejection and presumed already elevated 
background solar wind speeds, (presumably around 700km/sec). 
It is expected to hit the Earth during second half of the UT day 
29 Oct. The recent expected mass ejections did arrive with only minor 
discontinuites observed at 0130 and 0230UT approximately. Shocks 
were not auto detected due to solar wind density not changing 
across shock arrival (all wind parameters must show jump for 
auto detection). The north-south component of the interplanetary 
magnetic field was only briefly/mildly southward around shock 
arrival times. This event was thus overforecast. The US ACE satellite 
became blinded at 13UT due to the strong proton event. Due to 
the intensity of the proton event it is likely that the ACE spacecraft 
will remain blind when the shock from the X17 (Y1.7) flare arrives. 
No web access was possible to the SOHO MTOF proton solar wind 
speed monitor presumably due to high usage of the site with the 
loss of ACE data. A strong solar radio noise storm has been 
observed on the Culgoora Radiospectrograph since dawn this morning. 
Further flares from 486, 484 (now far west approaching western 
limb) and 488 (still growing) are expected today. 484 will depart 
the disk in a couple of days. 

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

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 28 Oct: Quiet to Active 

Estimated Indices 28 Oct :  A   K           
   Australian Region      15   3334 2333
      Darwin               -   ---- ----
      Townsville          15   3334 2333
      Learmonth           13   3333 2333
      Culgoora            13   3333 2333
      Canberra            13   3333 2332
      Hobart              13   3333 2333
      Casey(Ant)          32   4555 3434
    
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 28 OCT : 
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth           NA
      Culgoora            22   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Canberra            16   (Quiet)
      Hobart              21   (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 28 Oct : A 
           Fredericksburg        15
           Planetary             18                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 27 Oct :  A   K
           Fredericksburg        13
           Planetary             15   3343 2331     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
29 Oct    90    Major to severe storm levels second half UT day. 
30 Oct    70    Major storm first half UT day, then declining. 
31 Oct    20    active 
COMMENT: IPS Geomagnetic Warning 50 was issued on 28 October 
and is current for interval 29-30 October. Forecast storm levels 
did not eventuate. Shocks from recent CME's were mildler than 
expected and the north-south component of the interplanetary 
magnetic field maintained a mostly neutral/northward orientation 
reducing geoeffectiveness. However, severe storm levels expected 
second half of 29 Oct and first half 30 Oct due to strong flare/CME 
overnight. This event is much more likely to be geoeffective. 
There is a good chance for a strong auroral display with this 
event. 

-----------------------------------------------------------
3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
28 Oct      Normal         Fair-normal    Fair-poor (PCA)
PCA Event : 10Mev/100MeV Proton/PCA Event Began 28 10 2003 1215UT 
	    and is in progress.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
29 Oct      Normal-fair    Fair-poor      Poor          
30 Oct      Normal-fair    Poor-fair      Poor          
31 Oct      Normal         Fair-normal    Fair          
COMMENT: Polar HF conditions again impacted by strong absorption 
which began at 1215UT on 28 Oct. Very strong degradation in HF 
conditions expected at mid to high latitudes over next two days. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
28 Oct    88

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Equatorial PNG Region:
      Enhanced by 25% during local day,
      Near predicted monthly values during local night.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Enhanced by 15% during local day,
      Enhanced by 25% during local night.
   Southern Australian and New Zealand Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day,
      Enhanced by 20% during local night.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Scott Base):
      Proton event in progress, increased absorption observed.


Predicted Monthly T index for October:  55

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
29 Oct    70    enhanced 15 to 20%/depressed 20 to 40% late in 
                UT day. 
30 Oct    10    depressed 15 to 40%/near predicted monthly values 
31 Oct    30    depressed 10 to 15%/near predicted monthly values 
COMMENT: IPS HF Communications Warning 78 was issued on 28 October 
and is current for interval 29-30 October. Expected ionospheric 
depression for this morning have not eventuated due to weaker 
than expected shock induced geomagnetic activity. However, a 
strong degradation and depression is expected late 29 and 30 
Oct due to anticpated geomagnetic activity from very large (X17) 
flare/CME overnight. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 27 Oct
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   5.0E+07
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  9.6E+06
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 1.20E+07 (normal)
       X-ray background: C3.6
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 27 Oct
Speed: 469 km/sec  Density:    1.2 p/cc  Temp:   143000 K  Bz:   2 nT

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


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