[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 23 March 23 issued 2330 UT on 23 Mar 2023 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Regional Warning Centre rwc at ips.gov.au
Fri Mar 24 10:30:57 EST 2023


SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/23 MARCH 2023
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 23 MARCH AND FORECAST FOR 24 MARCH - 26 MARCH
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** YELLOW **   MAG:** RED **     ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 23 Mar:  R0

Flares: none.

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 23 Mar: 151/106


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             24 Mar             25 Mar             26 Mar
Activity     R0-R1              R0-R1              R0-R1
Fadeouts     Possible           Possible           Possible
10.7cm/SSN   150/105            145/99             145/99

COMMENT: Solar activity on UT day 23-Mar was at the R0 level, 
with no significant flaring. There is no region of significance 
currently on the solar disk. There are currently 5 numbered sunspot 
regions on the solar disk and three new regions located at N18E15, 
N26W15 and S14E20. Solar region AR3259(S21E11, beta) is showing 
slight growth. Solar activity is expected to be at R0-R1 levels 
over 24-26 Mar. No new significantly Earth directed CMEs have 
been observed. A narrow south east directed CME was observed 
in LASCO C2 from 23/0548UT but is considered not Earth directed. 
The solar wind magnetic field parameters became unexpectedly 
enhanced over the past 24 hours, with a gradual increase in the 
solar wind total magnetic field strength together with an increasing 
southward drift of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz 
component. The solar wind speed and temperature remained relatively 
steady. The solar wind density gradually increased from 23/05-14UT 
then reduced. The ACE satellite EPAM low energy ion flux showed 
an increase in flux peaking at around 23/1000UT, suggesting a 
slow/weak glancing blow CME signature possibly from a recent 
filament eruption, though the slow drift in southward IMF strength 
could also suggest a coronal hole wind stream IMF precursor but 
as yet there is no increase in the solar wind speed evident or 
subsequent reversal in the IMF Bz orientation. In addition a 
Forbush decrease was observed later in the UT day on 23-Mar further 
suggesting a slow CME arrival as a contributor. The solar wind 
speed on UT day 23-Mar was steady ranging from 443 to 513 km/s, 
and is currently near 468 km/s. The peak total interplanetary 
field strength (IMF, Bt) was 22 nT and the north-south IMF component 
(Bz) range was +10 to -18 nT. A steady southward orientation 
in Bz (-15nT) was observed from 23/1700UT. An extended period 
of elevated solar wind conditions is likely from a coronal hole 
in the southern solar hemisphere, whilst this coronal hole is 
broad in longitudinal extent it is located quite far south which 
may reduce induced geomagnetic activity. The coronal hole has 
a narrow trans equatorial extension on its eastern side, though 
at this stage this feature is now past solar central meridian 
and in SDO193 imagery appears to have reduced in area. This extension 
may elevate solar wind speeds on 26-27-Mar.

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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 23 Mar: G2

Estimated Indices 23 Mar : A   K           
   Australian Region      30   21336455
      Cocos Island        24   22235355
      Darwin              25   21236345
      Townsville          33   21456445
      Learmonth           29   21236455
      Alice Springs       27   21236355
      Gingin              28   21336355
      Canberra            27   11336445
      Hobart              28   11346445    

Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 23 Mar :
      Macquarie Island    53   11567465
      Casey               21   24434344
      Mawson              55   23255485

Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 23 Mar : 
      Darwin               0   (Quiet)
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth            0   (Quiet)
      Alice Springs        0   (Quiet)
      Gingin              22   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Canberra            29   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Hobart              68   (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 and have been shown to be
well correlated with rejection of high resolution aeromagnetic
survey flight-line data. 

NOTE: Indices may have been generated from data obtained in 
cooperation with the following organisations: Geoscience Australia, 
University of Newcastle Space Physics Group, Australian Government 
Antarctic Division and International Center for Space Weather 
Science and Education, Japan.


Estimated AFr/Ap Indices 23 Mar : A 
           Fredericksburg        23
           Planetary             44                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 22 Mar :  A   K
           Fredericksburg        14
           Planetary             16   3334 3331     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
24 Mar    45    G1-G2, chance of isolated G3 period early in UT 
                day.
25 Mar    25    G0-G1
26 Mar    18    G0-G1

COMMENT: ASWFC Geomagnetic Warning 14 was issued on 23 March 
and is current for 24 Mar only. Unexpected G1-G2 geomagnetic 
activity was observed in the Australian region on UT day 23-Mar 
possibly due to a glancing blow from a recent filament eruption 
and possible coronal hole wind stream entry effects. G1-G4 conditions 
were observed in the Antarctic region. G1-G2 conditions are now 
expected for the first half of 24 Mar. With the current sustained 
southward IMF conditions there is a chance for the regional magnetic 
field to reach G3 early in the UT day on 24-Mar. In general an 
extended interval of mildly enhanced geomagnetic activity is 
expected 25-27 Mar due to a broad coronal hole located in the 
southern solar hemisphere.

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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
23 Mar      Normal         Normal-poor    Fair-poor      

PCA Event : No event.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
24 Mar      Normal         Poor-fair      Poor-fair
25 Mar      Normal         Normal-fair    Poor-fair
26 Mar      Normal         Normal-fair    Fair

COMMENT: HF propagation conditions on 23-Mar became degraded 
during the second half of the UT day due to unexpectedly strong 
geomagnetic activity. Degraded HF conditions are now expected 
for middle to high latitudes for 24-Mar. An extended period of 
mildly degraded HF conditions for middle to high latitudes is 
expected due to a broad solar coronal hole wind stream during 
25-27 Mar. Middle to low latitude HF conditions are expected 
to remain normal.

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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
23 Mar   141

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Cocos Island Region:
      Enhanced by 20-85% 
   Niue Island Region:
      Enhanced by 40-55% 
   Northern Australian Region:
      Enhanced by 20-35% 
   Southern Australian Region:
      Enhanced by 30% during local day.
      Enhanced by 45% during local night.
      Depressed by 15% after local dawn.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Scott Base/Davis/Mawson):
      Near predicted monthly values over the UT day.

Monthly T index:
Month  T index
Feb      117
Mar      80
Apr      80

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
24 Mar    65    20% depressed/20% enhanced
25 Mar    75    15% depressed/20% enhanced
26 Mar   125    Near predicted monthly values/20% enhanced

COMMENT: Maximum usable frequencies (MUFs) on UT day 23-Mar in 
the Australian region were generally enhanced by 20-85%. Unexpected 
degraded HF conditions were observed during local night hours 
for southern region Australia with strong spread F observed at 
Canberra, Norfolk Island and Hobart. Aurora displays were seen 
at Canberra overnight in association with overnight geomagnetic 
storm activity. Southern region Australia MUFs are expected to 
be depressed 15-20% today following the overnight geomagnetic 
activity. MUFs for northern region Australia are expected to 
remain enhanced by 20-30% over the next three days. In general, 
degraded HF conditions during local night hours for southern 
region Australia are possible during 25-27 Mar due to an expected 
extended interval of mildly increased geomagnetic activity from 
a broad solar coronal hole. Ionospheric scintillation was observed
23/1246-1359UT at Darwin and Weipa.

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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 22 Mar
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   1.4E+06
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  4.1E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 1.40E+07   (normal fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability: 3%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
       X-ray background: B7.9

DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 22 Mar
Speed: 524 km/sec  Density:   10.9 p/cc  Temp:   357000 K  Bz:   0 nT

(Courtesy Space Weather Prediction Center, Boulder USA)
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Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
ASWFC at bom.gov.au
www.bom.gov.au | www.sws.bom.gov.au



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