[Ips-dsgr] IPS Daily Report - 29 May 03

rwc rwc at ips.gov.au
Fri May 30 09:34:32 EST 2003


SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 29/2330Z MAY 2003 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 29 MAY AND FORECAST FOR 30 MAY - 01 JUNE
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** RED **   MAG:** RED **     ION: ** RED **
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 29 May:  High

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
X1.1/2B    0105UT  probable   all    West Pacific
M2.7/1N    1937UT  possible   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American
M1.5/1F    0217UT  possible   lower  E. Asia/Aust.

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 29 May: 138/92


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             30 May             31 May             01 Jun
Activity     Moderate to high   Moderate to high   Moderate to high
Fadeouts     Probable           Probable           Probable
10.7cm/SSN   145/99             140/94             135/89
COMMENT: Two coronal mass ejections have struck the Earth. However, 
there may be some ambiguity as to solar event origin. Two 
M flare halo CME's were observed on 26 May, and two X flare CME's 
were observed 27/28 May. Either the X class events have arrived 
earlier than expected (arrival time estimate based on observed 
radio Type II speeds) and the M class shocks were not discernable 
in the solar wind, or these CME's are associated with the earlier 
M class flares, and two more CME's are still enroute to the Earth. 
An earlier than expected arrival of the X class CME's scenario is 
more probable due to enhanced background solar wind speed due to 
coronal hole high speed wind stream. The first small shock arrived 
around 12UT, the second larger shock was at 1830UT on 29 May. Solar wind speed 
increased from 650 to 750km/sec across the two shocks. The north-south 
component of the interplanetary magnetic field fluctuated strongly 
southward at shock arrival, reaching 40nT south around 19UT. Bz 
then returned to near neutral/mildly southward. Also, the magnetopause 
-the balancing point of the Earth's magnetic field and solar 
wind pressure, crossed geosynchronous orbit at times between 
19 and 22UT. Solar region 365 produced the most recent X1 event 
and region 368 the M2 event, and again both were associated with
Type II/IV radio sweeps (inferred CME). The Type II shock speeds for 
these events suggest that the X1 shock should arrival first half UT day 
31 May, and the M2 shock should arrive first half 02 Jun. However, based 
on recent estimated/observed arrival times these shocks may also 
arrive earlier than expected. Dependant on solar origin of recent 
shock arrivals, between 2 and 4 mass ejections could be on the 
way to the Earth (2 is more likely scenario). Solar region 365 
has been reported to have shown some signs of decay, but still 
remains M and X class flare capable. Shortwave fadeouts can be 
expected on daylight HF circuits. The large coronal hole visible 
in SOHO imagery is approaching solar central meridian, high speed 
wind stream entry expected 02 Jun. 
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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 29 May: Unsettled to Severe Storm Levels


Estimated Indices 29 May :  A   K           
   Australian Region      50   4334 5677
      Darwin              43   5333 5666
      Townsville          40   3334 5666
      Learmonth           40   3334 5666
      Canberra            50   3344 5677
      Hobart              45   3344 5577
      Casey(Ant)          73   4433 5787
    
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 29 MAY : 
      Townsville           2   (Quiet)
      Learmonth           27   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Canberra            96   (Minor storm)
      Hobart              76   (Active)

Estimated AFr/Ap Indices 29 May : A 
           Fredericksburg        50
           Planetary             60                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 28 May :  A   K
           Fredericksburg        22
           Planetary             36   6555 4444     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
30 May    40    Initially at minor storm levels then declining. 
31 May    60    Major storm 
01 Jun    20    Active to minor storm 
COMMENT: IPS Geomagnetic Warning 20 was issued on 29 May and 
is current for interval 30-31 May. It appears that the mass ejections 
from the recent X class events have arrivaed earlier than expected 
with geomagnetic storm activity observed second half of UT day 
on 29 May. Storm activity is likely to continue during first 
half of UT day today then decline. Further mass ejection arrivals 
are expected 31 May and 02 Jun, with major storm conditions likely 
on 31 May due to the X class flare/CME on early on 29 May. In 
addition coronal hole high speed wind stream effects expected 
from 02 Jun. 

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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
29 May      Normal-fair    Normal-poor    Fair-poor      
PCA Event : 10Mev Proton/PCA Event Began 29 05 2003 0155UT and is in progress

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
30 May      Fair           Fair-poor      Poor          
31 May      Fair           Fair-poor      Poor          
01 Jun      Normal         Fair           Poor-fair     
COMMENT: HF conditions very degraded late in UT day due to earlier 
than expected arrival of mass ejections and geomagnetic storm 
onset. High latitude HF communication also degraded due to proton 
event in progress. High latitude communication expected to be 
very degraded next two days. Further mass ejection arrival expected 
31 May. 
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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
29 May    73

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Equatorial PNG Region:
      Enhanced by 20% during local day,
      Enhanced by 40% during local night,
      Enhanced by 70% after local dawn.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Enhanced by 35% during local day,
      Enhanced by 30% during local night.
      Darwin MUfs were enhanced over 100% between 07 and 11 UT.
   Southern Australian and New Zealand Region:
      Mostly near predicted monthly values,
      Depressed by 35% after local dawn.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Scott Base):
      Proton event in progress, increased absorption observed.


Predicted Monthly T index for May:  72

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
30 May    70    near predicted monthly values (Northern Aus)
30 May    40    depressed 10 to 30% (southern Aus/NZ)
31 May    30    near predicted monthly values/depressed 10 to 30% 
01 Jun    60    depressed 10 to 15%/near predicted monthly values 
COMMENT: IPS HF Communications Warning 39 was issued on 28 May 
and is current for interval 28-30 May. Geomagnetic storm activity 
arrived earlier than expected, with storm onset late on 29 May. 
Stations south of Townsville, are depressed by up to 30% after 
local dawn this morning. Depressed conditins expected to continue 
for most of local day, with a recovering trend. Further degraded 
and depressed conditions are expected on 31 May/01 June, due 
to the anticipated arrival of another mass ejection associated 
with an X1 flare early on 29 May. Mid to high latitude HF comms 
are expected to be very degraded over the next two days. 
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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 28 May
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   1.7E+07
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  2.6E+05
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 3.10E+07 (normal)
       X-ray background: B5.9
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 28 May
Speed: 705 km/sec  Density:    3.0 p/cc  Temp:   208000 K  Bz:   2 nT

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