[Ips-dsgr] IPS Daily Report - 17 January 05

rwc rwc at ips.gov.au
Tue Jan 18 10:24:35 EST 2005


SUBJ: IPS DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 17/2330Z JANUARY 2005 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 17 JANUARY AND FORECAST FOR 18 JANUARY - 20 JANUARY
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** RED **   MAG:** RED **     ION: ** RED **
-----------------------------------------------------------
1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 17 Jan:  High

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
 X3/2F    0952UT  probable   all    Mid East/Indian

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 17 Jan: 138/92


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             18 Jan             19 Jan             20 Jan
Activity     Moderate to high   Moderate to high   Moderate to high
Fadeouts     Probable           Probable           Probable
10.7cm/SSN   135/89             130/84             120/72
COMMENT: Solar wind conditions were disturbed in past 24 hours. 
A minor shock was observed at around 0715 UT (presumably from 
the recent M8 flare) and another indistinct shock was observed 
in the solar wind using the SOHO MTOF solar wind proton monitor 
data at around 1334UT. This was presumably from the recent X2 
flare. Neither of these shocks were as strong as expected. The 
north south component of the interplanetary magnetic field (known 
as Bz - southward orientation is correlated with strong disturbances), 
was southward post shock but not sustained, and currently has 
a mildly northward orientation. Solar region 720 (N13W27) produced 
the long duration (almost 4 hours) X3.8 flare. Energetic protons 
from this flare blinded the US ACE solar wind satellite. The 
proton event was much stronger than the event associated with 
the recent X2 flare and is above event count levels at 10, 50 
and 100Mev energy levels. The 100 MeV event is declining and 
just above event threshold count level. The flare was also associated 
type II/IV radio sweeps (inferring that a CME has occured), observed 
by Learmonth Solar Observatory. The LASCO (space based coronagraph) 
confirmed a full halo event. This indicates that the mass ejection 
is Earth directed and likely to be very geoeffective, due to 
its strength and location just west of solar central meridian. 
Event data suggests that the coronal mass ejection is expected 
to arrive 14-21UT on 18 Jan. A very strong shock is expected. 
The ACE instrument may remain blinded, and may miss this shock. 
A strong noise storm is in progress this morning on the Culgoora 
Radio Spectrograph, this indicates that region 720 is not quiet 
and further activity is likely. The US GOES 12 satellite magnetometer 
showed that the GOES satellite passed outside the Earths magnetopause 
at times between 15 and 18 UT, due to the compression of the 
Earths magnetic field from the X2 mass ejection event. 
A moderate shock was observed in the solar wind at 0716UT on 
17 Jan. 

-----------------------------------------------------------
2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 17 Jan: Unsettled to Major Storm 

Estimated Indices 17 Jan :  A   K           
   Australian Region      38   4345 5643
      Darwin              37   3345 5644
      Learmonth           41   4355 5644
      Culgoora            40   3355 5643
      Canberra            35   3345 5633
      Hobart              43   4445 6633
      Casey(Ant)          58   4--6 6643
    
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 17 Jan : 
      Townsville          NA
      Learmonth           NA
      Culgoora            45   (Unsettled)
      Canberra            NA
      Hobart             139   (Severe storm)
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 Jan : A 
           Fredericksburg        60
           Planetary             80                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 16 Jan :  A   K
           Fredericksburg        10
           Planetary             12   2222 3323     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
18 Jan    20    Initially at unsettled to active levels, storm conditions 
                expected at end of UT day. 
19 Jan    80    Severe Storm levels. 
20 Jan    30    Active to Minor storm 
COMMENT: Two coronal mass ejections arrived overnight, but activity 
whilst at major storm levels was not as strong as forecast. A 
decline in activity is expected for most of today in association 
with mildly northward interplanetary magnetic field conditions. 
The coronal mass ejection from the X3.8 flare is expected to 
arrive late on 18 Jan, and severe storm levels are expected on 
19 Jan. IPS received a report of an Auroral sighting from Launceston, 
Tasmania overnight. 

-----------------------------------------------------------
3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
17 Jan      Normal-fair    Normal-fair    Poor (PCA)
PCA Event : 10Mev Proton/PCA Event Began 16 01 2005 0220UT and is in 
	    progress. Intensified due to X3.8 flare.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
18 Jan      Fair-normal    Fair-normal    Poor (PCA)
19 Jan      Fair           Fair-poor      Poor          
20 Jan      Fair-normal    Poor-fair      Poor-fair     
COMMENT: HF conditions have been degraded due to frequent short 
wave fadeouts, and geomagnetic storm activty in past 24 hours. 
Polar regions currently severely impacted by increassed absorption 
from another proton event. HF conditions expected to remain very 
degraded at high latitudes for next two days. HF conditions may 
briefly improve before a stronger degradation is expected late 
18-19 Jan due to anticipated arrival of coronal mass ejection 
associated with the recent X3.8 flare. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
17 Jan    40

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Equatorial PNG Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day,
      Depressed by 25% during local night.
      Depressed by 20% after local dawn.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Enhanced by 20% during local day,
      Near predicted monthly values during local night.
   Southern Australian and New Zealand Region:
      Mostly near predicted monthly values,
      Enhanced by 35% after local dawn.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Scott Base):
      Proton event in progress, increased absorption observed.

Predicted Monthly T index for January:  32

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
18 Jan    40    near predicted monthly values/depressed 10 to 
                20% 
19 Jan   -10    30 to 40% below predicted monthly values 
20 Jan    10    depressed 10 to 20%/near predicted monthly values 
COMMENT: HF conditions expected to be disrupted by shortwave 
fadeouts today due to active solar region. Two Earth directed 
coronal mass ejections have impacted the Earth, however ionospheric 
response has not been as bad as predicted. Todays T index revised 
to 40. However, another coronal mass ejection is expected to 
arrive late 18 early 19 Jan and depressed conditions are expected 
for 19 Jan and possibly 20 Jan. 
-----------------------------------------------------------
5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 16 Jan
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   1.4E+08
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  1.3E+07
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 2.20E+08 (moderate fluence)  
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability:16%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
       X-ray background: C1.6

ACE Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 16 Jan
Speed: 540 km/sec  Density:    2.0 p/cc  Temp:    94000 K  Bz:   0 nT

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