[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 20 May 23 issued 2331 UT on 20 May 2023 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Regional Warning Centre rwc at ips.gov.au
Sun May 21 09:31:25 EST 2023


SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/20 MAY 2023
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 20 MAY AND FORECAST FOR 21 MAY - 23 MAY
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** RED **   MAG:** YELLOW **     ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 20 May:  R2

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
  M1.0    0702UT  possible   lower  Mid East/Indian
  M6.5    0732UT  probable   lower  Mid East/Indian
  M1.6    1054UT  possible   lower  European
  M8.9    1235UT  probable   lower  European
  M5.6    1500UT  possible   lower  South American/
                                    Atlantic
  M1.1    1903UT  possible   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American
  M5.2    2306UT  possible   lower  West Pacific

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 20 May: 170/124


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             21 May             22 May             23 May
Activity     R1-R2, chance R3   R1-R2, chance R3   R1-R2, chance R3
Fadeouts     Probable           Possible           Possible
10.7cm/SSN   168/122            160/114            155/109

COMMENT: Solar activity on UT day 20-May reached R2 levels. Eight 
M-class flares were observed: M1 at 0702 UT, M6.4 at 0732 UT, 
M1 at 1054 UT, M8.9 at 1234 UT, M5.6 at 1500 UT, M1.1 at 1902 
UT and M5.1 at 2306 UT. All of these flares originated from AR3311 
(N18E50, beta-delta), which is still the largest and most complex 
sunspot region on the solar disk. AR3311 has continued to develop 
its magnetic complexity over the UT day. An M1 flare was observed 
at 0928 UT from AR3312 (S23E55, beta), along with C flares with 
several other regions. AR3308 (N11W51, alpha) has also shown 
some minor growth. All other sunspot regions are either stable 
or in decay. Solar activity is expected to be at R1-R2 levels 
over 21-23 May, with a chance for R3 flares, primarily due to 
AR3311. No significant CMEs were observed on UT day 20-May. The 
solar wind speed on UT day was on a general increasing trend 
and ranged between 370 to 600 km/s, and is currently near 550 
km/s. The peak total interplanetary field strength (IMF, Bt) 
was 21 nT and the north-south IMF component (Bz) range was +9 
to -18 nT. This increase in the solar wind parameters was likely 
due to the combination of a small equatorial coronal hole wind 
stream and glancing influence from a recent CME. Bz was oriented 
southward for sustained periods throughout the UT day, The solar 
wind speed is expected to begin to decrease over 21-22 May as 
CME effects wane, but an increase is likely by 23-May due to 
2 coronal hole wind streams in the southern solar hemisphere.

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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 20 May: G2

Estimated Indices 20 May : A   K           
   Australian Region      16   43442322
      Cocos Island        12   43332122
      Darwin              17   44442222
      Townsville          19   44442323
      Learmonth           21   53442333
      Alice Springs       15   43442222
      Gingin              19   53432333
      Canberra            13   43332322
      Hobart              13   43332322    

Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 20 May :
      Macquarie Island    29   34564422
      Casey               18   34442333
      Mawson              56   64642267

Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 20 May : 
      Darwin               0   (Quiet)
      Townsville           2   (Quiet)
      Learmonth            5   (Quiet)
      Alice Springs        0   (Quiet)
      Gingin               0   (Quiet)
      Canberra             3   (Quiet)
      Hobart               8   (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 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 20 May : A 
           Fredericksburg        24
           Planetary             34                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 19 May :  A   K
           Fredericksburg        10
           Planetary              8   0001 1244     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
21 May    12    G0
22 May     8    G0
23 May    16    G0-G1

COMMENT: Mostly G0 geomagnetic conditions were observed in the 
Australian region on UT day 20-May, however there was a period 
of G1 observed at Learmonth and Gingin. Despite these mostly 
insignificant conditions, the Australian disturbance storm time 
(DST) index reached a minimum of -120 nT at 1153 UT. G0-G2 geomagnetic 
conditions were observed in the Antarctic region. General planetary 
conditions observed two periods of G2 at the beginning of the 
UT day. This geomagnetic activity was due to a CME which arrived 
at 19/2030 UT. Geomagnetic activity is expected to be at G0 levels 
over 21-23 May, with possible periods of G1 by 23-May due to 
two coronal hole wind streams.

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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
20 May      Poor           Fair           Normal-fair    

PCA Event : No event.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
21 May      Normal         Normal-fair    Normal-fair
22 May      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair
23 May      Normal         Normal         Normal

COMMENT: Some degraded conditions were generally observed at 
all latitudes on 20-May during local night hours. Mostly normal 
HF radio communication conditions are expected over 21-23 May. 
Shortwave fadeouts are probable.

-----------------------------------------------------------
4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
20 May   112

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

Monthly T index:
Month  T index
Apr      120
May      87
Jun      88

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
21 May    90    Near predicted monthly values to 10% depressed
22 May   105    Near predicted monthly values to 15% enhanced
23 May   110    Near predicted monthly values to 20% enhanced

COMMENT: ASWFC SWF HF Communications Warning 47 was issued on 
19 May and is current for 20-22 May. Maximum usable frequencies 
(MUFs) on UT day 20-May in the Australian region were near predicted 
monthly values to 30% enhanced. Spread-F was observed at Hobart, 
and degraded conditions were observed at Brisbane, Darwin and 
Cocos Islands. MUFs are expected to be near predicted monthly 
values on 21-May with some mild depressions, then enhanced by up 
to 20% over 22-23 May. Shortwave fadeouts are probable.

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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 19 May
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   7.1E+04
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  2.5E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 4.00E+06   (normal fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability: 1%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
       X-ray background: C1.8

DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 19 May
Speed: 337 km/sec  Density:    3.8 p/cc  Temp:    46800 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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