[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 22 March 26 issued 2330 UT on 22 Mar 2026 [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre
aswfc at bom.gov.au
Mon Mar 23 10:30:50 AEDT 2026
SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/22 MARCH 2026
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 22 MARCH AND FORECAST FOR 23 MARCH - 25 MARCH
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** YELLOW ** MAG:** RED ** ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 22 Mar: R0
Flares: none.
Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 22 Mar: 120/72
1B. SOLAR FORECAST
23 Mar 24 Mar 25 Mar
Activity R0-R1 R0-R1 R0-R1
Fadeouts Possible Possible Possible
10.7cm/SSN 120/72 120/72 122/75
COMMENT: Solar flare activity on UT day 22-Mar was R0. There
are currently six numbered sunspots on the solar disk. Active
region (AR) 4400 (S13W23, beta) showed some growth, and AR4398
(S15E14, beta) went through a small growth phase followed by
a decay phase. All other sunspot regions are stable. Solar activity
is expected to be R0-R1 over 23-25 Mar.
A CME directed to the solar southeast was observed from 1624 UT.
The source of this event was a filament eruption beginning from
1549 UT in the solar southeast quadrant. Analysis indicates this
CME will not impact the Earth.
S0 solar radiation storm conditions were observed on UT day 22-Mar.
S0 solar radiation storm conditions are expected over 23-25 Mar.
The solar wind environment on UT day 22-Mar was
disturbed due to ongoing coronal hole effects. The solar wind
speed ranged from near 480 to 650 km/s over the course of the
day as a new coronal hole began to connect with the Earth. The
interplanetary magnetic field strength (IMF, Bt) was 14 nT and
the north-south IMF component range (Bz) was +6 to -12 nT. Bz
was oriented southward for a sustained time between 0700 and
1900 UT. The solar wind is expected to remain disturbed over
23-24 Mar due to further coronal hole effects. The solar wind
may begin to return to near background levels by 25-Mar.
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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY
Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 22 Mar: G2
Estimated Indices 22 Mar : A K
Australian Region 38 34365643
Cocos Island 23 333-5532
Darwin - --------
Townsville 32 34365533
Learmonth 34 34365543
Alice Springs 30 33365532
Gingin 35 33265643
Canberra 34 34465533
Kennaook Cape Grim 50 24476643
Hobart 60 24476753
Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 22 Mar :
Macquarie Island 98 23677874
Casey 29 45454433
Mawson 104 55655966
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 22 Mar :
Darwin NA
Townsville 2 (Quiet)
Learmonth 7 (Quiet)
Alice Springs 2 (Quiet)
Gingin 25 (Quiet to unsettled)
Canberra 27 (Quiet to unsettled)
Hobart 147 (Severe storm)
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 22 Mar : A
Fredericksburg 40
Planetary 77
Observed AFr/Ap Indices 21 Mar : A K
Fredericksburg 27
Planetary 44 7654 3343
2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST
Date Ap Conditions
23 Mar 35 G1-G2, chance G3
24 Mar 24 G1-G2, chance G3
25 Mar 16 G1-G2
COMMENT: ASWFC Geomagnetic Warning 19 was issued on 22 March
and is current for 22-24 Mar. G2 geomagnetic conditions were
observed in the Australian region on UT day 22-Mar due to ongoing
coronal hole activity and sustained southward Bz. G3-G5 geomagnetic
conditions were observed in parts of the Antarctic region. The
planetary geomagnetic conditions reached G3. Geomagnetic activity
is expected to be G1-G2 over 23-24 Mar, although remains the
possibility of further periods of G3 should there be periods
of sustained southward Bz. The chance for G3 will likely subside
by 25-Mar.
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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
Latitude Band
Date Low Middle High
22 Mar Normal-fair Fair Fair
PCA Event : No event.
3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
Latitude Band
Date Low Middle High
23 Mar Fair Fair Fair
24 Mar Normal-fair Normal-fair Fair
25 Mar Normal Normal-fair Normal-fair
COMMENT: HF radio propagation conditions on UT day 22-Mar were
degraded due to ongoing geomagnetic activity. HF radio propagation
conditions are expected to remain degraded over 23-24 Mar due
to further geomagnetic activity from a coronal hole, recovering
by 25-Mar.
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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY
Date T index
22 Mar 84
Observed Australian Regional MUFs
Cocos Island Region:
Enhanced by 25% during local day.
Near predicted monthly values during local night.
Niue Island Region:
No data available during local day.
No data available during local night.
Northern Australian Region:
Near predicted monthly values during local day.
Enhanced by 15% during local night.
Southern Australian Region:
Near predicted monthly values during local day.
Depressed by 20% during local night.
Antarctic Region (Casey/Davis/Mawson):
Depressed by 35% over the UT day.
Monthly T index:
Month T index
Feb 98
Mar 87
Apr 85
4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date T index MUFs
23 Mar 80 Depressed by 10-20%
24 Mar 80 Depressed by 10-20%
25 Mar 90 Near predicted monthly values to 10-20% depressed
COMMENT: ASWFC HF Communications Warning 28 was issued on 21
March and is current for 22-24 Mar. Maximum usable frequencies
in the Australian region on UT day 22-Mar were enhanced in the
northern regions and depressed by 20% in the southern regions.
Sporadic-E was observed during local night-dawn hours along the
eastern coast of Australia. HF radio conditions in Darwin were
degraded during local night-dawn hours. Ionospheric scintillation
was observed in Weipa from 1121 to 1140 UT. MUFs are expected
to remain depressed up to 20% due to ongoing geomagnetic activity
over 23-24 Mar, beginning to recover by 25-Mar.
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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY
GOES satellite data for 21 Mar
Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV: 1.3E+06
Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV: 1.6E+04
Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 9.90E+06 (normal fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability: 2%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
X-ray background: B2.8
DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 21 Mar
Speed: 495 km/sec Density: 4.2 p/cc Temp: 128000 K Bz: 4 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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