[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 18 March 24 issued 2330 UT on 18 Mar 2024 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Regional Warning Centre rwc at ips.gov.au
Tue Mar 19 10:30:08 EST 2024


SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/18 MARCH 2024
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 18 MARCH AND FORECAST FOR 19 MARCH - 21 MARCH
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** RED **   MAG:GREEN     ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 18 Mar:  R2

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
  M2.7    0332UT  possible   lower  E. Asia/Aust.
  M1.0    0414UT  possible   lower  E. Asia/Aust.
  M6.7    1919UT  probable   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 18 Mar: 177/131


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             19 Mar             20 Mar             21 Mar
Activity     R1-R2              R1-R2              R1-R2
Fadeouts     Probable           Probable           Probable
10.7cm/SSN   170/124            170/124            168/122

COMMENT: Solar activity on UT day 18-Mar was at the R2 level 
due to an M6.7 flare at 18/1919UT from AR3615 (S12E61, gamma). 
Two low level M-class flares were also observed, with an M2.7 
at 18/0332UT and an M1.0 at 18/0414UT. There are currently seven 
numbered active regions visible on the solar disk. AR3615 is 
the most magnetically complex region on the solar disk and has 
exhibited spot development over the UT day. AR3607 (S17W34, beta) 
and AR3616 (N01W30, beta) have also shown spot development. AR3614 
(N16E56, beta) has shown growth in its trailer spots. AR3608 
(N09W25, beta) has exhibited minor growth. All other active regions 
are either stable or in decay. Solar activity is expected to 
be at R1-R2 levels over 19-21 Mar. S0 solar proton conditions 
were observed on UT day 18-Mar, with the 10 MeV proton flux gradually 
declining to background levels over the UT day. S0 solar proton 
conditions are expected over 19-21 Mar. No Earth-directed CMEs 
have been observed. The solar wind speed on UT day 18-Mar was 
mostly stable, ranging from 280 to 355 km/s and is currently 
near 355 km/s. A minor shock in the solar wind speed was observed 
at 18/1941UT, indicative of a weak CME arrival. The peak total 
interplanetary field strength (IMF, Bt) was 10 nT and the north 
south IMF component (Bz) range was +5 to -9 nT. A sustained period 
of southward IMF conditions was observed from 18/1815 and is 
ongoing. The solar wind speed is expected to remain near background 
levels on 19-Mar before mildly increasing over 20-21 Mar due 
to a CME arrival from a filament eruption first observed on 17-Mar.

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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 18 Mar: G0

Estimated Indices 18 Mar : A   K           
   Australian Region       2   11100022
      Darwin               2   11100022
      Townsville           3   11100023
      Learmonth            2   11000022
      Alice Springs        2   01000022
      Gingin               3   10100032
      Canberra             1   00000012
      Kennaook Cape Grim   2   00100022    

Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 18 Mar :
      Macquarie Island     1   00000012
      Casey                7   31310023
      Mawson              12   10100055

Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 18 Mar : 
      Darwin               0   (Quiet)
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth           NA
      Alice Springs        0   (Quiet)
      Gingin               0   (Quiet)
      Canberra             0   (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 18 Mar : A 
           Fredericksburg         4
           Planetary              5                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 17 Mar :  A   K
           Fredericksburg         2
           Planetary              3   0000 1211     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
19 Mar    12    G0, chance G1
20 Mar    12    G0, chance G1
21 Mar     8    G0

COMMENT: G0 geomagnetic conditions were observed in the Australian 
region on UT day 18-Mar. Mostly G0 geomagnetic conditions were 
observed in the Antarctic region, with an isolated period of 
G1 observed at Mawson. G0 geomagnetic conditions are expected 
over 19-21 Mar, with a chance of G1 on 19-Mar due to ongoing 
effects from a weak CME arrival and a chance of G1 on 20-Mar 
due to the expected arrival of a weak CME first observed on 17-Mar.

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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
18 Mar      Normal         Normal         Normal         

PCA Event : No event.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
19 Mar      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair
20 Mar      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair
21 Mar      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair

COMMENT: HF radio communication conditions on UT day 18-Mar were 
mostly normal. HF radio communication conditions are expected 
to be mostly normal over 19-21 Mar. Shortwave fadeouts are probable.

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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
18 Mar   131

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Cocos Island Region:
      Enhanced by 20% during local day.
      Enhanced by 70% during local night.
   Niue Island Region:
      Near predicted monthly values.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day.
      Enhanced by 35% during local night.
   Southern Australian Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day.
      Enhanced by 20% during local night.
      Enhanced by 20% after local dawn.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Davis/Mawson):
      Enhanced by 30% over the UT day.

Monthly T index:
Month  T index
Feb      138
Mar      111
Apr      112

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
19 Mar   130    Near to 15% above predicted monthly values
20 Mar   130    Near to 15% above predicted monthly values
21 Mar   130    Near to 15% above predicted monthly values

COMMENT: ASWFC SWF HF Communications Warning 27 was issued on 
17 March and is current for 17-19 Mar. Maximum usable frequencies 
(MUFs) in the Australian region on UT day 18-Mar were near predicted 
monthly values to 20-35% enhanced. Ionospheric scintillation 
was observed at Darwin and Weipa at 18/1059-1410UT. MUFs are 
expected to be near predicted monthly values to 15% enhanced 
over 19-21 Mar. Shortwave fadeouts are probable.

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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 17 Mar
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   4.6E+06
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  1.7E+05
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 6.00E+06   (normal fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability: 1%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
       X-ray background: C1.6

DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 17 Mar
Speed: 338 km/sec  Density:    1.1 p/cc  Temp:    29900 K  Bz:   1 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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