[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 20 March 24 issued 2331 UT on 20 Mar 2024 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Regional Warning Centre rwc at ips.gov.au
Thu Mar 21 10:31:01 EST 2024


SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/20 MARCH 2024
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 20 MARCH AND FORECAST FOR 21 MARCH - 23 MARCH
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** RED **   MAG:GREEN     ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
-----------------------------------------------------------
1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 20 Mar:  R2

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
  M2.1 19/2327UT  possible   lower  West Pacific
  M7.4    0736UT  probable   lower  Mid East/Indian
  M2.0    2255UT  possible   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 20 Mar: 176/130


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             21 Mar             22 Mar             23 Mar
Activity     R1-R2              R1-R2              R1-R2 
Fadeouts     Probable           Probable           Probable
10.7cm/SSN   178/131            176/130            174/128

COMMENT: 
Solar activity on UT day 20-Mar was at the R2 level due to an M7.4 
flare at 20/0736UT and an M2.0 flare at 20/2255UT, both produced by 
AR3615 (S12E33, beta-gamma-delta). 

There are currently seven numbered active regions visible on the solar 
disk and one unnumbered region. AR3615 is the largest and most magnetically 
complex visible region and showed spot development over 20-Mar. AR3607 
(S17W62, beta) also showed some degree of spot development, although 
this region is magnetically simple and soon to rotate off the solar 
disk. All other numbered regions are either stable or in decay. An 
unnumbered region has developed on the solar disk at around S08W46 
with beta magnetic complexity. 

Solar activity is expected to be at R1-R2 levels over 21-23 Mar.
 
No Earth-directed CMEs were observed on 20-Mar. A west directed CME 
was observed in SOHO and STEREO-A imagery from 20/1224UT and a northeast 
directed CME was observed from 20/1612UT. Both of these CMEs are 
associated with activity over the limb visible due to coronal loop 
movement in SDO and GOES SUVI imagery from 20/1014UT at N12 and 20/1535UT 
at N05 respectively. Neither of these CMEs are considered geoeffective. 
An eruption off the southern limb is visible from 20/1711UT in GOES 
SUVI imagery but no associated CME is visible in available coronagraph 
imagery. Should this event produce a CME it is unlikely to have a 
significant effect on Earth due to its southward direction. 

The solar wind speed on UT day 20-Mar was in decline ranging from 
306 to 407 km/s and is currently near 310 km/s. The peak total 
interplanetary field strength (IMF, Bt) was 7 nT and the north south 
IMF component (Bz) range was +5 to -5 nT. 

There is a possibility of a mild increase in solar wind speed on 21-Mar 
due to a possible glancing impact from a CME first observed on 17-Mar. 
Should this not eventuate, the solar wind speed is expected to remain 
near background levels over 21-23 Mar. An increase is possible late on 
23-Mar due to an equatorial coronal hole which is approaching a geoeffective 
location.

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

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 20 Mar: G0

Estimated Indices 20 Mar : A   K           
   Australian Region       2   11210002
      Darwin               1   11110001
      Townsville           2   11110002
      Learmonth            4   21310012
      Alice Springs        2   01110002
      Gingin               4   21310012
      Canberra             2   11110002
      Kennaook Cape Grim   1   11110001
      Hobart               2   11210002    

Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 20 Mar :
      Macquarie Island     1   00210001
      Casey                8   33321012
      Mawson              22   53211046

Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 20 Mar : 
      Darwin               0   (Quiet)
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth            0   (Quiet)
      Alice Springs        0   (Quiet)
      Gingin               4   (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 20 Mar : A 
           Fredericksburg         8
           Planetary              9                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 19 Mar :  A   K
           Fredericksburg         7
           Planetary              7   3122 2212     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
21 Mar     8    G0
22 Mar     5    G0
23 Mar    10    G0

COMMENT: G0 geomagnetic conditions were observed in the Australian 
region on UT day 20-Mar. Mostly G0 conditions were observed in 
the Antarctic region, with periods of G1 and G2 observed at Mawson. 
G0 geomagnetic conditions are expected over 21-23 Mar.

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

PCA Event : No event.

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

COMMENT: HF radio communication conditions on UT day 20-Mar were 
mostly normal. HF radio communication conditions are expected 
to be mostly normal over 21-23 Mar. Shortwave fadeouts are probable.

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


Date   T index
20 Mar   133

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Cocos Island Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day.
      Enhanced by 45% during local night.
   Niue Island Region:
      Near predicted monthly values.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Mostly near predicted monthly values.
   Southern Australian Region:
      Enhanced by 15% during local day.
      Enhanced by 15% during local night.
      Enhanced by 25% after local dawn.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Davis/Mawson):
      Enhanced by 15% 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
21 Mar   135    Near to 15% above predicted monthly values
22 Mar   135    Near to 15% above predicted monthly values
23 Mar   135    Near to 15% above predicted monthly values

COMMENT: ASWFC SWF HF Communications Warning 28 was issued on 
20 March and is current for 20-22 Mar. Maximum usable frequencies 
(MUFs) in the Australian region on UT day 20-Mar were near predicted 
monthly values in the northern Australian region and enhanced 
by up to 25% in the southern Australian region, with the strongest 
enhancements visible at the end of the UT day. MUFs are expected 
to be near predicted monthly values to 15% enhanced over 21-23 
Mar. Shortwave fadeouts are probable.

-----------------------------------------------------------
5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 19 Mar
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   3.7E+05
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  2.8E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 1.00E+06   (normal fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability: 1%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
       X-ray background: C1.3

DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 19 Mar
Speed: 375 km/sec  Density:    5.2 p/cc  Temp:    90200 K  Bz:  -2 nT

(Courtesy Space Weather Prediction Center, Boulder USA)
-----------------------------------------------------------

Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
ASWFC at bom.gov.au
www.bom.gov.au | www.sws.bom.gov.au



More information about the ips-dsgr mailing list