[ips-sf] SWS Summary Forecast for 22 December - issued 2350UT/21-Dec-2016 [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[rwc]

Solar flare activity was very low today (21 December UT). As
anticipated, solar wind speed got strengthened due to the coronal hole
effect. Solar wind speed increased up to around 670 km/s. The Bz
component of IMF varied mostly between +/-10 nT after the coronal hole
effect kicked in. This coronal hole effect is expected to keep the
solar wind stream strong for the next three days (22 to 24 December).
Very low levels of solar activity may be expected for the next three
days (22, 23 and 24 December). The coronal hole effect resulted in
increased levels of geomagnetic activity today. Periods of minor storm
and isolated periods of major storm on high latitudes were observed.
Geomagnetic activity is expected to remain enhanced during the next
three days due to this coronal hole effect. Activity may rise up to
minor storm and at times major storm on 22 and 23 December. So 22 and
23 December seem to be good days to watch the auroras. A gradual
decline in geomagnetic activity is expected from 24 December. MUFs
were mostly near normal today. Minor to significant MUF depressions
and degradations in HF conditions may be expected from 22 to 24
December.

Space Weather Services              email: asfc at bom.gov.au
Bureau of Meteorology
PO Box 1386                         WWW: http://www.sws.bom.gov.au
Haymarket NSW 1240  AUSTRALIA       FTP: ftp://ftp-out.sws.bom.gov.au
tel: +61 2 9213 8010                fax: +61 2 9213 8060 

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