[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 15 February 24 issued 2330 UT on 15 Feb 2024 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Regional Warning Centre rwc at ips.gov.au
Fri Feb 16 10:30:08 EST 2024


SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/15 FEBRUARY 2024
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 15 FEBRUARY AND FORECAST FOR 16 FEBRUARY - 18 FEBRUARY
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** YELLOW **   MAG:GREEN     ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 15 Feb:  Moderate

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
  M1.8    1707UT  possible   lower  South American/
                                    Atlantic

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 15 Feb: 178/131


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             16 Feb             17 Feb             18 Feb
Activity     Moderate           Moderate           Moderate
Fadeouts     Possible           Possible           Possible
10.7cm/SSN   175/129            170/124            165/119

COMMENT: Solar activity om UT day 15-Feb was R1, with an M1.8 
solar flare from AR3576 (S13W76, beta-gamma). There are currently 
eight numbered sunspots on the visible solar disk. AR3576, which 
has maintained a high magnetic complexity during its transit 
across the disk, appears to be decaying. This region is near 
the western limb though, and cannot be analysed fully due to 
limb foreshortening. AR3579 (S04W48, beta) is a relatively small 
region but has shown fast growth over the past day. All other 
sunspot regions are either stable or in decay. Solar activity 
is expected to be R1-R2 over 16-18 Feb, although this may decrease 
when AR3576 rotates over the limb.

 A slow CME directed to the solar west was observed from 15/0148 UT 
and is not expected to be geoeffective. A fast partial halo 
CME was observed from 15/0936 UT and is likely associated 
with ex-region AR3575, which is well on the farside. This CME 
is not expected to be geoeffective, although a shockwave can be
 observed travelling up the solar south pole on the front side 
of the Sun. This shock wave is not expected to have any impacts 
to Earth. No other noteworthy CMEs were observed on 15-Feb. 

The solar wind environment was generally near background 
levels on UT day 15-Feb. The solar wind speed was on a slight
 decline and ranged between 465 and 354 km/s. The peak total 
interplanetary field strength (IMF, Bt) was 9 nT and the 
north-south IMF component range (Bz) was +7 to -4 nT. There 
is some weak coronal hole features along the solar equator 
that may enhance solar wind speeds over 16-17 Feb but this is 
not high confidence. Otherwise, the solar wind is expected 
to be near background levels. 

The 10 MeV protons are currently near 3 pfu and declining.
 Solar radiation conditions over 16-18 Feb are expected 
to be S0 with a slight chance for S1.

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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 15 Feb: G0

Estimated Indices 15 Feb : A   K           
   Australian Region       3   21110012
      Cocos Island         1   2110000-
      Darwin               2   2111001-
      Townsville           3   21210012
      Learmonth            2   21110011
      Alice Springs        1   2011000-
      Gingin               2   2111001-
      Canberra             4   22110003
      Hobart               3   11211011    

Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 15 Feb :
      Macquarie Island     1   1101100-
      Casey               14   44431122
      Mawson              10   3322223-

Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 15 Feb : 
      Darwin               0   (Quiet)
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth            2   (Quiet)
      Alice Springs        0   (Quiet)
      Gingin              31   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Canberra            26   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Hobart              36   (Quiet to unsettled)

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 15 Feb : A 
           Fredericksburg         4
           Planetary              5                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 14 Feb :  A   K
           Fredericksburg         6
           Planetary              4   2210 0102     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
16 Feb    10    G0
17 Feb    12    G0
18 Feb     6    G0

COMMENT: G0 geomagnetic conditions were observed in the Australian 
and Antarctica regions on UT day 15-Feb. G0 geomagnetic conditions 
are expected over 16-18 Feb.

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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
15 Feb      Normal         Normal         Normal         

PCA Event : 10MeV Proton/PCA Event Began at 0755UT 12/02, Ended at 1930UT 14/02

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
16 Feb      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair
17 Feb      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair
18 Feb      Normal         Normal         Normal

COMMENT: HF radio communication conditions on UT day 15-Feb were 
mostly normal at all latitudes. HF radio communication conditions 
are expected to be mostly normal over 16-18 Feb. Isolated shortwave 
fadeouts are possible.

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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
15 Feb   143

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Cocos Island Region:
      Enhanced by 15% during local day.
      Enhanced by 65% during local night.
      Enhanced by 35% after local dawn.
   Niue Island Region:
      Enhanced by 15% during local day.
      Near predicted monthly values during local night.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day.
      Enhanced by 15% during local night.
   Southern Australian Region:
      Mostly near predicted monthly values.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Davis/Mawson):
      Enhanced by 15% over the UT day.

Monthly T index:
Month  T index
Jan      144
Feb      108
Mar      108

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
16 Feb   145    Near predicted monthly values to 20% enhanced
17 Feb   145    Near predicted monthly values to 20% enhanced
18 Feb   145    Near predicted monthly values to 20% enhanced

COMMENT: ASWFC SWF HF Communications Warning 20 was issued on 
14 February and is current for 15-16 Feb. Maximum usable frequencies 
(MUFs) on UT day 15-Feb were near predicted monthly values to 
15% enhanced in the Australian region. Scintillation was observed 
at Darwin between 16/1552-1620 UT. Brief sporadic-E was observed 
at most Australian sites during local early morning hours. MUFs 
are expected to be near predicted monthly values to 20% enhanced 
over 16-18 Feb. Isolated shortwave fadeouts re possible.

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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 14 Feb
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   1.5E+07
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  1.7E+06
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 1.30E+06   (normal fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability: 1%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
       X-ray background: C1.5

DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 14 Feb
Speed: 446 km/sec  Density:    1.2 p/cc  Temp:    95900 K  Bz:   2 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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