[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 30 March 24 issued 2330 UT on 30 Mar 2024 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Regional Warning Centre rwc at ips.gov.au
Sun Mar 31 10:30:11 EST 2024


SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/30 MARCH 2024
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 30 MARCH AND FORECAST FOR 31 MARCH - 02 APRIL
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** RED **   MAG:GREEN     ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 30 Mar:  R2

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
  M9.2    2116UT  probable   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American
  M9.4    2131UT  probable   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American
  M4.5    2253UT  possible   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 30 Mar: 140/94


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             31 Mar             01 Apr             02 Apr
Activity     R1-R2, chance R3   R1-R2, chance R3   R0-R1
Fadeouts     Probable           Probable           Possible
10.7cm/SSN   135/89             125/78             120/72

COMMENT: 
Solar activity on UT day 30-Mar was at the R2 level due to an M9.2 
flare at 30/2116UT, a long duration M9.4 flare at 30/2131UT and an 
M4.5 flare at 30/2253UT, the peaks of the second and third flare overlap 
the tail of the preceding flares. The combined X-Ray flux is still 
elevated above the R1 threshold at the time of writing. All of these 
flares were produced by AR3615 (S13W82, beta-delta). 

There are currently three numbered active regions visible on the solar 
disk and one unnumbered region. AR3615 remains the largest and most 
magnetically complex region on the disk and was responsible for all 
of the significant flaring of the UT day. This region has started to 
rotate off the visible disk, however it is still expected to be the main 
influence on solar activity for the next two days. All other active regions 
are stable. An unnumbered region has developed on the solar disk at 
around N15E54 with beta magnetic characteristics. 

Solar activity is expected to be at R1-R2 levels over 31-Mar to 01-Apr, 
with a chance of R3. R0-R1 activity is expected on 02-Apr after AR3516 
has rotated off the solar disk. 

S0 solar proton conditions are expected over 31-Mar to 02-Apr, with a 
chance of S1 on 31-Mar to 01-Apr due to recent M-class flaring from AR3516 
on the western limb. 

No significantly geoeffective CMEs were observed on 30-Mar. A broad south 
directed CME is visible from 30/0412UT in SOHO imagery, although the first 
observed time is difficult to determine as this CME is obscured by others. 
This CME is not considered geoeffective. A west directed CME is visible in 
SOHO and STEREO-A imagery from 30/2148UT following the M-class flaring from 
AR3516. There is currently limited imagery and further analysis will be 
performed when more imagery becomes available, however any CME from this 
location is likely to pass ahead of the Earth and produce a glancing impact at
most. 


The solar wind speed on UT day 30-Mar increased, ranging from 316 to 455 km/s 
and is currently near 450 km/s. The peak total interplanetary field strength 
(IMF, Bt) was 14 nT and the north south IMF component (Bz) range was +9 to -9
nT. 
The enhancement in solar wind and IMF conditions is due to high speed wind 
stream effects produced by a number of small coronal holes rotating into a 
geoeffective position. 

These coronal holes will continue rotating through a geoeffective area until 
05-Apr. The solar wind speed is expected to remain slightly elevated, with 
mild dips and enhancements likely over 31-Mar to 02-Apr as the Earth moves 
through different coronal hole high speed wind stream regimes.

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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 30 Mar: G0

Estimated Indices 30 Mar : A   K           
   Australian Region       3   11001212
      Cocos Island         3   11111211
      Darwin               4   11012212
      Townsville           5   12112212
      Learmonth            3   11002211
      Alice Springs        3   01111212
      Gingin               1   11001101
      Canberra             1   00001102
      Kennaook Cape Grim   1   11001101
      Hobart               2   01001102    

Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 30 Mar :
      Macquarie Island     0   00000001
      Casey                5   13211111
      Mawson               8   10011125

Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 30 Mar : 
      Darwin               4   (Quiet)
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth            0   (Quiet)
      Alice Springs        0   (Quiet)
      Gingin               0   (Quiet)
      Canberra             4   (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 30 Mar : A 
           Fredericksburg         6
           Planetary              7                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 29 Mar :  A   K
           Fredericksburg         4
           Planetary              5   2121 1101     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
31 Mar    10    G0, chance of G1
01 Apr     8    G0
02 Apr     8    G0

COMMENT: G0 geomagnetic conditions were observed in the Australian 
region on UT day 30-Mar. Mostly G0 activity was observed in the 
Antarctic region, with an isolated period of G1 observed at Mawson 
at the end of the UT day. G0 geomagnetic conditions are expected 
over 31-Mar to 02-Apr, with a chance of G1 on 31-Mar due to ongoing 
coronal hole high stream wind speed effects.

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

PCA Event : No event.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
31 Mar      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair
01 Apr      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair
02 Apr      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair

COMMENT: HF radio communications on UT day 30-Mar were mostly 
normal. Mostly normal HF conditions are expected over 31-Mar 
to 02-Apr. Shortwave fadeouts are probable on 31-Mar to 01-Apr, 
and possible on 02-Apr.

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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
30 Mar   124

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Cocos Island Region:
      Enhanced by 25% during local day.
      Enhanced by 40% during local night.
   Niue Island Region:
      Near predicted monthly values.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Near predicted monthly values.
   Southern Australian Region:
      Near predicted monthly values.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Davis/Mawson):
      Near predicted monthly values 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
31 Mar   130    Near to 15% above predicted monthly values
01 Apr   125    Near predicted monthly values
02 Apr   120    Near predicted monthly values

COMMENT: ASWFC SWF HF Communications Warning 34 was issued on 
29 March and is current for 30 Mar to 1 Apr. Maximum usable frequencies 
(MUFs) on UT day 30-Mar were near predicted monthly values in 
the Australian region. Spread F was observed at Hobart and Canberra 
during local night hours. MUFs are expected to be near predicted 
monthly values to 15% enhanced on 30-Mar and near predicted monthly 
values on 01-02 Apr. Shortwave fadeouts are probable on 31-Mar 
to 01-Apr, and possible on 02-Apr.

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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 29 Mar
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   4.9E+06
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  3.8E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 6.20E+06   (normal fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability: 1%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
       X-ray background: C2.4

DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 29 Mar
Speed: 349 km/sec  Density:    0.0 p/cc  Temp:    20000 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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