[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 17 March 25 issued 2330 UT on 17 Mar 2025 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre aswfc at bom.gov.au
Tue Mar 18 10:30:55 AEDT 2025


SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/17 MARCH 2025
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 17 MARCH AND FORECAST FOR 18 MARCH - 20 MARCH
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** YELLOW **   MAG:** YELLOW **     ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
-----------------------------------------------------------
1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 17 Mar:  R1

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
  M1.0    1934UT  possible   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 17 Mar: 204/155


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             18 Mar             19 Mar             20 Mar
Activity     R0-R1              R0-R1              R0-R1
Fadeouts     Possible           Possible           Possible
10.7cm/SSN   188/141            186/139            186/139

COMMENT: Solar activity on UT day 17-Mar was at the R1 level 
due to an M1.0 flare at 17/1934UT. There are currently thirteen 
numbered active regions on the visible solar disk and two unnumbered 
regions. AR4021 (S06W19, beta), AR4025 (N10W20, beta-gamma), 
AR4031 (N17W09, beta-gamma) and AR4034 (S17E42,beta-gamma) showed 
spot development over the UT day. AR4028 (S18E10, beta-gamma) 
is magnetically complex but showed trailer spot simplification. 
AR4033 (N26E36, alpha) was responsible for the M1.0 flare at 
17/1934UT. An unnumbered region has developed at around N10W32 
with beta magnetic characteristics. A further unnumbered region 
has rotated onto the solar disk at around N15E80 also with beta 
magnetic characteristics. All other regions were either stable 
or in decay. Solar activity is expected to be at R0-R1 levels 
over 18-20 Mar. S0 solar radiation storm conditions were observed 
on UT day 17-Mar. S0 solar radiation storm conditions are mostly 
expected over 18-20 Mar. A slow, north directed CME is visible 
in SOHO and STEREO-A imagery from 17/0612UT. There is no, clear, 
on disk source of this CME. Modelling suggests the majority of 
the CME will pass above the Earth, but there is a chance of a 
glancing impact at 0600UT on 22-Mar +/- 12 hours. Due to the 
slow speed of this CME, any impact is expected to be negligible. 
A pair of narrow CMEs directed to the east and west visible in 
SOHO imagery from 17/1148UT and 17/1325UT respectively. The later 
CME is associated with an eruption on the solar disk at around 
N13W34 from 17/1051UT visible in SDO, GOES SUVI and H-Alpha imagery. 
The earlier has no obvious connection to on-disk activity. Both 
of these CMEs are not expected to be geoeffective. An eruption 
on the disk from 17/1918UT is visible in SDO, GOES SUVI and H-Alpha 
imagery from 17/1918UT. This eruption is associated with the 
M1.0 flare at 17/1934UT. No associated CME is yet visible in 
available coronagraph imagery. CME impact analysis will be performed 
once more imagery becomes available. Solar wind speed was steady 
on 17-Mar with the wind speed mostly ranging between 440 km/s 
and 350 km/s. The current wind speed is around 390 km/s. The 
peak total interplanetary field strength (IMF, Bt) was 8 nT and 
the north-south IMF component range was +6 to -7 nT. The solar 
wind environment is expected to be near background levels over 
18-19 Mar. An increase in speed is possible early on 20-Mar due 
to the arrival of a CME first observed on 16-Mar.

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

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 17 Mar: G0

Estimated Indices 17 Mar : A   K           
   Australian Region       8   22213232
      Cocos Island         7   22212231
      Darwin               6   22212222
      Townsville           7   22222222
      Learmonth            9   32213232
      Alice Springs        6   22212222
      Gingin              12   32213342
      Canberra             7   22213222
      Kennaook Cape Grim  10   23213332
      Hobart              11   23313332    

Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 17 Mar :
      Macquarie Island    19   23435422
      Casey               17   44333233
      Mawson              40   54533373

Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 17 Mar : 
      Darwin               0   (Quiet)
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth            0   (Quiet)
      Alice Springs        0   (Quiet)
      Gingin               2   (Quiet)
      Canberra             2   (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 17 Mar : A 
           Fredericksburg        13
           Planetary             17                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 16 Mar :  A   K
           Fredericksburg        10
           Planetary             12   2223 4333     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
18 Mar    10    G0
19 Mar     8    G0
20 Mar    16    G0, chance of G1

COMMENT: G0 geomagnetic conditions were observed in the Australian 
region on UT day 17-Mar. Mostly G1 geomagnetic conditions were 
observed in the Antarctic region, with a period of G3 observed 
at Mawson. G0 geomagnetic conditions are expected over 18-19 
Mar. G0 conditions, with a chance of G1 are expected on 20-Mar 
due to the anticipated arrival of a CME first observed on 16-Mar.

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

PCA Event : No event.

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

COMMENT: HF radio propagation conditions on UT day 17-Mar were 
mostly normal, with some degradations visible at the start of 
the UT day at mid to high latitudes in the southern hemisphere. 
HF radio propagation conditions are expected to be mostly normal 
over 18-20 Mar, with the chance of degradations at high latitudes 
on 20_mar due to possible geomagnetic activity. Equatorial scintillation 
is anticipated due to the proximity to the equinox. Minor shortwave 
fadeouts are possible.

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


Date   T index
17 Mar   126

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Cocos Island Region:
      Near predicted monthly values during local day.
      Enhanced by 25% during local night.
   Niue Island Region:
      Enhanced by 30% during local day.
      Enhanced by 60% during local night.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Mostly near predicted monthly values.
      Enhanced by 25% after local dawn.
   Southern Australian Region:
      Near predicted monthly values.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Davis/Mawson):
      Depressed by 15% over the UT day.

Monthly T index:
Month  T index
Feb      127
Mar      117
Apr      114

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
18 Mar   135    Near to 15% above predicted monthly values
19 Mar   140    Near to 15% above predicted monthly values
20 Mar   130    Near predicted monthly values

COMMENT: Maximum usable frequencies (MUFs) on UT day 16-Mar were 
mostly near predicted values, with enhancements of up to 25% 
observed in the northern Australian region. Sporadic-E was observed 
at Brisbane, Canberra and Perth. Spread F was observed at Hobart. 
MUFs are expected to be near predicted monthly values to 15% 
enhanced over 18-19 Mar. MUFs are expected to be near predicted 
monthly values on 20-Mar due to possible geomagnetic activity. 
Minor shortwave fadeouts are possible.

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

GOES satellite data for 16 Mar
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   6.6E+05
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  1.7E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 1.90E+08   (moderate fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability:15%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
       X-ray background: C1.1

DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 16 Mar
Speed: 441 km/sec  Density:    0.3 p/cc  Temp:    66800 K  Bz:  -1 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