[Ips-dsgr] IPS Daily Report - 16 August 02

rwc rwc at ips.gov.au
Sat Aug 17 08:52:29 EST 2002


SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 16/2330Z AUGUST 2002 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 16 AUGUST AND FORECAST FOR 17 AUGUST - 19 AUGUST
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** RED **   MAG:** RED **     ION: **YELLOW**
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 16 Aug:  High

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
  M1.0 15/2333UT  possible   lower  West Pacific
  M2.6    0612UT  possible   lower  Mid East/Indian
  M5.3    1235UT  possible   lower  European
  M1.3    2212UT  possible   lower  West Pacific

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 16 Aug: 214/165


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             17 Aug             18 Aug             19 Aug
Activity     Moderate to high   Moderate to high   Moderate to high
Fadeouts     Probable           Probable           Probable
10.7cm/SSN   215/165            220/170            225/175
COMMENT: Large solar region 69 (S14E20) produced the M5.2 flare 
(slow decline, long duration) at 1232UT. A proton enhancement 
followed the flare. This event was associated with a Type II 
radio sweep, and Lasco reported a fast bright full halo front 
side mass ejection. Event data suggests a shock arrival window 
0200-1000UT 18 Aug. This regions location, just east of the centre 
of the solar disk and event parameters suggest signifcant activity 
can be expected from this flare. A smaller fainter mass ejection 
was observed off the west limb at the start of the UT day, any 
effects from this mild event will probably be overtaken by the 
fast CME from the M5 flare. Yesterdays small discontinuity appears 
to have been the signature from the recent M1.8/CME event. Solar 
wind speed was moderately elevated over the UT day , 600km/sec, 
and the north south comoponent of the interplanetary magnetic 
field was mildly (5nT) southward for much of the UT day. 

Previously X-flare(s) producing region 39 is due for return to 
the south-east limb around 18 Aug. Also, previously M-flare(s) 
producing region 44 is also due for return to the south-east 
limb around this day. 
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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 16 Aug: Quiet to Active 

Estimated Indices 16 Aug :  A   K           
   Australian Region      15   3343 3313
      Townsville          13   2342 3323
      Learmonth            8   3232 2202
      Canberra            13   2343 3313
      Hobart              15   2353 3212
      Casey(Ant)          15   3442 2322
      Davis(Ant)          15   34-3 3323
    
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 16 AUG : 
      Townsville           4   (Quiet)
      Learmonth           NA
      Canberra            36   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Hobart              67   (Active)
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 16 Aug : A 
           Fredericksburg        20
           Planetary             20                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 15 Aug :  A   K
           Fredericksburg        18
           Planetary             19   3334 3455     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
17 Aug    15    Unsettled to Active 
18 Aug    60    Major storm 
19 Aug    18    Initially active , then declining to unsettled 
                levels. 
COMMENT: IPS Geomagnetic Warning 29 was issued on 16 August and 
is current for interval 18-19 August. Major storm levels expected 
early 18 Aug due to M5 flare/CME on 16 Aug. Chance periods of 
severe storm local night 18 Aug. 

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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
16 Aug      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair    
PCA Event : No event, however proton enhancement in progress..

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
17 Aug      Normal         Normal         Normal-Fair
18 Aug      Normal-Poor    Poor           Poor
19 Aug      Normal         Normal-Fair    Fair
COMMENT: Strongly degrdaded HF conditions probable at mid to 
high latitudes on 18 Aug due to recent M5/CME event. Proton flux 
is currently elevated (trending up) but below event thresholds 
following the M5 flare. Increased absorption is likely on polar 
HF circuits as day progresses. Strong MUF depressions are likely 
18/19 Aug for northern hemisphere. Frequent fadeouts can be expected 
on daylight HF circuits. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
16 Aug   141

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Equatorial PNG Region:
      Enhanced by 15% during local day,
      Enhanced by 55% during local night.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Enhanced by 20% during local day,
      Enhanced by 45% during local night.
      Enhanced by 20% after local dawn.
   Southern Australian and New Zealand Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day,
      Enhanced by 35% during local night.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Scott Base):
      Enhanced by 20% over the UT day.
      Some absorption observed late in UT day.


Predicted Monthly T index for August: 102

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
17 Aug   120    about 5% above predicted monthly values 
18 Aug   100    Initially enhanced 5%, then depressed 15-20%. 
19 Aug    85    depressed 10 to 20%/near predicted monthly values 
COMMENT: IPS HF Communications Warning 38 was issued on 15 August 
and is current for interval 16-18 August (SWFs) . Strongly degraded 
conditions expected local night hours 18 Aug, southern Aus/NZ 
region. MUF depression for southern hemisphere not expected to 
be severe due to seasonal factors (winter). Fadeouts can be expected 
on daylight HF circuits. 
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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 15 Aug
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   1.5E+07
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  1.7E+05
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 2.00E+08 (moderate)
       X-ray background: C1.1
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 15 Aug
Speed: 568 km/sec  Density:    1.0 p/cc  Temp:   295000 K  Bz:  -4 nT

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