[Ips-dsgr] IPS Daily Report - 17 August 02

rwc rwc at ips.gov.au
Sun Aug 18 09:24:45 EST 2002


SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 17/2330Z AUGUST 2002 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 17 AUGUST AND FORECAST FOR 18 AUGUST - 20 AUGUST
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** RED **   MAG:** RED **     ION: **YELLOW**
-----------------------------------------------------------
1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 17 Aug:  Moderate

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
M3.4/SF    2051UT  possible   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 17 Aug: 227/177


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             18 Aug             19 Aug             20 Aug
Activity     Moderate to high   Moderate to high   Moderate to high
Fadeouts     Probable           Probable           Probable
10.7cm/SSN   230/180            235/185            235/185
COMMENT: Large solar region 69 is now just west of the centre 
of the solar disk. This region produced the M3.8 event, which 
was impulsive and did not appear to be associated with a mass 
ejection. This region still has very good flare potential (Big 
Bear Observatory Bear Alert Service reported that the region 
is still magnetically complex at multiple sites within the region). 
Solar wind speed declined from 550 to 450 km/sec over the UT 
day, as coronal hole effects subside. The north-south component 
of the interplanetary magnetic field was mildly southward (5nT) 
over the UT day. ACE EPAM precursor data channel suggests shock 
arrival is still to be expected first half of UT day today, 
possibly more towards the end of the 02-10UT 18 Aug 
anticipated arrival window. 

ACE EPAM data indicates an energetic ion enhancement event beginning 
17/2115UT, which can be a precursor to increased geomagnetic 
activity over next 24-36 hours. 
Previously X-flare(s) producing region 39 is due for return to 
the south-east limb around 18 Aug. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 17 Aug: Quiet to Unsettled 

Estimated Indices 17 Aug :  A   K           
   Australian Region       8   1332 2122
      Townsville           7   1332 1123
      Learmonth            8   1330 ----
      Canberra             9   1342 2122
      Hobart               7   1232 2121
      Casey(Ant)           9   2431 1122
      Davis(Ant)          16   2343 3242
    
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 17 AUG : 
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth           NA
      Canberra            11   (Quiet)
      Hobart               5   (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 17 Aug : A 
           Fredericksburg        12
           Planetary             12                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 16 Aug :  A   K
           Fredericksburg         8
           Planetary             17   4353 3332     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
18 Aug    60    Initially unsettled , impulse expected first 
                half UT day, then major storm. 
19 Aug    18    active 
20 Aug    12    Unsettled 
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. 

-----------------------------------------------------------
3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
17 Aug      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair    
PCA Event : No event.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
18 Aug      Normal-Poor    Normal-Poor    Poor
19 Aug      Normal         Normal-Fair    Fair
20 Aug      Normal         Normal         Normal-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 at 3PFU's and slowly declining. Frequent 
fadeouts can be expected on daylight HF circuits. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
17 Aug   152

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Equatorial PNG Region:
      Enhanced by 15% during local day,
      Enhanced by 75% during local night.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day,
      Enhanced by 30% during local night.
   Southern Australian and New Zealand Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day,
      Enhanced by 30% during local night.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Scott Base):
      Enhanced by 20% over the UT day.
      Some spread and absorption observed.


Predicted Monthly T index for August: 102

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
18 Aug   120    Initially enhanced 15%, then depressed 15-20%. 
19 Aug    85    depressed 10 to 20%/near predicted monthly values 
20 Aug   125    near normal to 15% enhanced. 
COMMENT: IPS HF Communications Warning 39 was issued on 16 August 
and is current for interval 18-19 August. Strongly degraded conditions 
expected local night hours 18 Aug, southern Aus/NZ region. Fadeouts 
can be expected on daylight HF circuits. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 16 Aug
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   1.1E+06
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  3.5E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 4.60E+07 (normal)
       X-ray background: C1.6
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 16 Aug
Speed: 585 km/sec  Density:    1.2 p/cc  Temp:   329000 K  Bz:  -5 nT

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


IPS Radio and Space Services      | email: asfc at ips.gov.au
PO Box 1386                       | WWW: http://www.ips.gov.au/asfc
Haymarket NSW 1240  AUSTRALIA     | FTP: ftp://ftp.ips.gov.au/users/asfc/ 
tel: +61 2 9213 8010              | fax: +61 2 9213 8060 



More information about the ips-dsgr mailing list