[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 21 December 25 issued 2330 UT on 21 Dec 2025 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre aswfc at bom.gov.au
Mon Dec 22 10:30:51 AEDT 2025


SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/21 DECEMBER 2025
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 21 DECEMBER AND FORECAST FOR 22 DECEMBER - 24 DECEMBER
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** YELLOW **   MAG:** RED **     ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 21 Dec:  R1

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
  M1.3    1827UT  possible   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 21 Dec: 124/77


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             22 Dec             23 Dec             24 Dec
Activity     R0-R1              R0-R1              R0-R1
Fadeouts     Possible           Possible           Possible
10.7cm/SSN   130/84             135/89             140/94

COMMENT: Solar activity was at the R1 level on UT day 21-Dec, 
with an M1.3 flare observed at 21/1827UT, originating from Active 
Region (AR) 4316 (S07E27, beta-gamma). This region has increased 
in size and magnetic complexity over the last 24 hours. It is 
one of four regions on the visible solar disk. AR4311 (N04W55, 
alpha) also exhibited growth, before decaying late in the UT 
day. Active Region 4317 (N13E66, beta) continues to rotate from 
the eastern limb, with additional nearby spots also rotating 
into view. All other regions appear stable. Solar activity is 
expected to be at R0-R1 over the period 22-24 Dec, given the 
past flare activity of AR4316. S0 solar radiation storm conditions 
were observed over the past 24 hours, with the proton flux remaining 
at background values. S0 conditions are forecast to continue 
over the period 22-24 Dec. No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections 
have been observed over the past UT day with available coronograph 
imagery. Solar wind speeds increased over 21-Dec as Earth connected 
with a coronal hole high-speed wind stream, increasing from 380-420 
km/s early in the UT day to reach 620-660 km/s by 21/0900UT. 
An additional small increase in wind speed was observed at 21/2000UT, 
with speeds now ranging between 680-720 km/s. An increase in 
the interplanetary magnetic field strength (IMF, Bt) accompanied 
the increase in wind speed, and peaked at 15 nT. The north-south 
component (Bz) ranged from -12 to +9 nT over this period, with 
periods of extended southward Bz between 21/0515-0615UT and 21/1250-1450UT. 
The solar wind speed is forecast to remain very strong over 22-23 
Dec, before decreasing on 24-Dec as the ongoing effects of the 
coronal hole high speed wind stream wane.

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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 21 Dec: G0

Estimated Indices 21 Dec : A   K           
   Australian Region      18   23344334
      Cocos Island        13   22333333
      Darwin              20   33334335
      Townsville          19   33344334
      Learmonth           19   33344334
      Alice Springs       17   23344333
      Gingin              15   32334333
      Canberra            18   23434334
      Kennaook Cape Grim  20   23444334
      Hobart              23   24444434    

Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 21 Dec :
      Macquarie Island    31   23356543
      Casey               47   47644444
      Mawson              64   55546567

Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 21 Dec : 
      Darwin              13   (Quiet)
      Townsville           7   (Quiet)
      Learmonth            6   (Quiet)
      Alice Springs        5   (Quiet)
      Gingin              37   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Canberra            35   (Quiet to unsettled)
      Hobart              65   (Active)

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 21 Dec : A 
           Fredericksburg        16
           Planetary             21                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 20 Dec :  A   K
           Fredericksburg         4
           Planetary              6   2111 2223     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
22 Dec    28    G0-G1
23 Dec    28    G0-G1
24 Dec    16    G0, chance G1

COMMENT: ASWFC Geomagnetic Warning 101 was issued on 21 December 
and is current for 21-23 Dec. G0 geomagnetic conditions were 
observed in the Australian region for UT day 21-Dec, with a period 
of G1 observed in Darwin late in the UT day. Periods of G1-G3 
geomagnetic activity were observed in the Antarctic region, with 
G1 conditions reported over the same time period at the planetary 
level due to connection with a trans-equatorial coronal hole 
high-speed wind stream. G0-G1 geomagnetic conditions are expected 
on 22-23 Dec, due to ongoing high speed wind stream effects. 
These conditions will ease to G0, chance G1 on 24-Dec as this 
coronal hole moves beyond a geoeffective position.

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

PCA Event : No event.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
22 Dec      Fair-normal    Fair-normal    Fair
23 Dec      Fair-normal    Fair-normal    Fair
24 Dec      Normal-fair    Normal-fair    Fair-normal

COMMENT: HF radio propagation conditions on UT day 21-Dec were 
Normal-Fair, with some mild depressions in the European and North 
American regions during local night hours. MUFs in the European 
region were up to 15% below predicted values during local night 
hours over this period. Some depressions were seen in the Australian 
and Asian regions during the local morning hours. These degradations 
are expected to continue on 22-23 Dec, due to ongoing coronal 
hole high-speed wind stream effects, before recovering on 24-Dec. 
Shortwave fadeouts are possible.

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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
21 Dec   122

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Cocos Island Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day.
      Enhanced by 30% during local night.
   Niue Island Region:
      Depressed by 20% during local day.
      Near predicted monthly values during local night.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day.
      Enhanced by 35% during local night.
      Depressed by 25% after local dawn.
   Southern Australian Region:
      Mostly near predicted monthly values.
      Depressed by 20% after local dawn.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Davis/Mawson):
      Near predicted monthly values over the UT day.

Monthly T index:
Month  T index
Nov      103
Dec      89
Jan      89

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
22 Dec    70    15 to 20% below predicted monthly values
23 Dec    70    15 to 20% below predicted monthly values
24 Dec    90    Near predicted monthly values

COMMENT: Maximum usable frequencies (MUFs) were mostly near predicted 
values during UT day 21-Dec, with some enhancements observed 
during local night hours in the Northern Australian region, and 
20-25% depressions observed during local morning across the northern 
and southern Australian regions. Low frequency sporadic-E was 
observed, particularly in the Brisbane, Townsville, and Perth 
regions. Spread F was also observed in Hobart during local night 
hours. MUFs are forecast to be 15-20% depressed on 22-23 Dec 
due to ongoing high-speed wind stream effects from an equatorial 
coronal hole. These conditions are expected to improve towards 
monthly predicted values over 24-Dec as high speed wind stream 
effects subside. Sporadic-E during local night hours may also 
be observed. Shortwave fadeouts are possible.

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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 20 Dec
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   2.5E+06
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  1.5E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 2.30E+08   (moderate fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability:16%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
       X-ray background: B6.5

DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 20 Dec
Speed: 442 km/sec  Density:    7.6 p/cc  Temp:    51200 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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