[Ips-dsgr] IPS Daily Report - 16 December 06

rwc rwc at ips.gov.au
Sun Dec 17 10:12:11 EST 2006


SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 16/2330Z DECEMBER 2006 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 16 DECEMBER AND FORECAST FOR 17 DECEMBER - 19 DECEMBER
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** RED **   MAG:** RED **     ION: GREEN
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 16 Dec:  Very low

Flares: none.

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 16 Dec:  82/23


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             17 Dec             18 Dec             19 Dec
Activity     Moderate to high   Moderate to high   Low
Fadeouts     Probable           Probable           None expected
10.7cm/SSN    80/20              75/13              75/13
COMMENT: Solar activity has been very low throughout the UT day 
of 16 December. A weak shock in the solar wind was observed 
at 1722 UT signalling the impact with the earth of the CME associated 
with the 14 December X class flare. The solar wind showed a steady 
decline throughout the UT day from 650 km/s to 550 km/s until 
the shock at 1722 UT when it increased to 650 km/s again. Solar 
wind speed is expected to remain elevated over the next few days. 
Bz, the z component of the IMF, remained very close to zero throughout
the UT day until 1722 UT. Since the shock, Bz has fluctuated 
between +/- 5 nT. With the arrival of the CME, geomagnetic activity 
increased from Unsettled to Active levels. There is a chance 
of Minor storm levels over the next 36 hours if a sustained 
period of southward Bz occurs. A recurring coronal hole region 
is expected to move into a geoeffective position in 2 to 3 days. 
Solar activity is expected to be moderate to high over the next 
2 days with Region 930 still having a good chance of producing 
further M and X class flares. 
A possible weak shock was observed in the solar wind at 1721UT 
on 16 Dec. 



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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 16 Dec: Unsettled 

Estimated Indices 16 Dec :  A   K           
   Australian Region      12   23322333
      Darwin              10   22222333
      Townsville          13   33322333
      Learmonth           15   32322443
      Camden              10   23321233
      Canberra            10   23321233
      Hobart               9   23221233
      Casey(Ant)          19   3-432344
    
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 16 Dec : 
      Darwin               0   (Quiet)
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth            0   (Quiet)
      Camden              30   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Canberra            12   (Quiet)
      Hobart              28   (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 and have been shown to be
well correlated with rejection of high resolution aeromagnetic
survey flight-line data. 

NOTE: Indices may have been generated from data obtained in 
cooperation with the following organisations: Geoscience Australia, 
University of Newcastle Space Physics Group, Australian Government 
Antarctic Division and Space Environment Research Center, Japan.


Estimated AFr/Ap Indices 16 Dec : A 
           Fredericksburg        10
           Planetary             10                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 15 Dec :  A   K
           Fredericksburg        48
           Planetary            104   8876 7443     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
17 Dec    30    Active to Minor storm 
18 Dec    30    Active to Minor storm 
19 Dec    20    active 
COMMENT: Geomagnetic activity has been Unsettled to Active over 
the last 24 hours. The effects of the CME associated with the 
13 December X flare have dissipated. However, with the glancing 
blow to the earth of the CME associated with the 14 December 
X flare occurring at 1722 UT, geomagnetic activity increased 
again from Unsettled to Active levels. There is the chance of 
Minor geomagnetic storm levels over the next 36 hours while the 
effects of the latest CME on the solar wind persist. A reccurring 
coronal hole region is expected to move into a geoeffective position 
over the next 2 to 3 days resulting in further geomagnetic activity. 

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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
16 Dec      Fair           Fair           Poor-fair      
PCA Event : Began at 0305UT 13/12, Ended at 1645UT 15/12
 

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
17 Dec      Fair           Fair           Fair-Poor
18 Dec      Fair           Fair           Fair-Poor
19 Dec      Normal         Normal-Fair    Fair
COMMENT: Propogation conditions throughout the UT day were highly 
variable with generally weak ionospheric support at all latitudes. 
Persistent and strong sporadic E was observed in ionograms at 
low and mid latitudes through the UT day. Expect slowly improving 
propagation conditions at all latitudes over the next few days. 
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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
16 Dec   -10

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
about 20% below predicted monthly values

Predicted Monthly T index for December:  10

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
17 Dec   -10    5 to 30% below predicted monthly values 
18 Dec    -5    5 to 20% below predicted monthly values 
19 Dec    -5    Near predicted monthly values 
COMMENT: IPS HF Communications Warning 40 was issued on 15 December 
and is current for interval 16-18 December (SWFs) . HF conditions 
throughout the UT day were highly variable with generally weak 
ionospheric support in all Australasian regions. Ionospheric 
support recovered to near normal levels around local dawn. Persistent 
and strong sporadic E was observed in ionograms across all
Australasian regions throughout the day. Expect current disturbed 
HF conditions to continue over the next few days but to slowly recover. 
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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 15 Dec
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   2.2E+08
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  2.2E+06
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 5.40E+08 (high fluence)  
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability:24%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
       X-ray background: A9.2

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 15 Dec
Speed: 663 km/sec  Density:    1.1 p/cc  Temp:    82100 K  Bz:  -4 nT

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