[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 24 March 26 issued 2330 UT on 24 Mar 2026 [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre
aswfc at bom.gov.au
Wed Mar 25 10:30:48 AEDT 2026
SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/24 MARCH 2026
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 24 MARCH AND FORECAST FOR 25 MARCH - 27 MARCH
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** YELLOW ** MAG:GREEN ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 24 Mar: R0
Flares: none.
Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 24 Mar: 128/81
1B. SOLAR FORECAST
25 Mar 26 Mar 27 Mar
Activity R0-R1 R0-R1 R0-R1
Fadeouts Possible Possible Possible
10.7cm/SSN 128/81 130/84 135/89
COMMENT: Solar flare activity on UT day 24-Mar was R0 with no
significant flare activity from the on disk solar regions. A
C7.2 flare was observed at 24/1754UT on the northeast solar limb
at solar latitude N12, with the presumed leader spot of a new
region just becoming visible. Recent region of interest AR4400
(S10W49, beta) is now in rapid decay. Solar region AR4401 (N24E38,
beta-gamma) continues to show development in its trailer spots
and produced a C2.3 flare at 24/2156UT. There are currently seven
numbered sunspots on the solar disk and one new unnumbered region
is currently rotating onto the disk. All other sunspot regions
are either stable or in decay. Solar activity is expected to
be R0-R1 over 25-27 Mar. No Earth directed CMEs were observed
on 24-Mar. A non-Earth directed northeast CME was observed from
24/2024UT associated with flare activity from the new sunspot
region that is currently rotating onto the solar disk. S0 solar
radiation storm conditions were observed on UT day 24-Mar. S0
solar radiation storm conditions are expected over 25-27 Mar.
A small isolated coronal hole is visible in the northeast solar
quadrant and is approaching the solar central meridian. The solar
wind speed on UT day 24-Mar was strong with a declining trend
as the influence of a high speed wind stream from a large coronal
hole now located in the northwest solar quadrant slowly reduces.
The solar wind speed ranged from 535 to 637 km/s and is currently
at 535 km/s. The interplanetary magnetic field strength (IMF,
Bt) was 5 nT and the north-south IMF component range (Bz) was
+3 to -4 nT. The IMF is currently small in magnitude. The solar
wind speed is expected to continue to slowly decline. The possible
weak glancing blow from a recent southeast directed filament
eruption/CME has failed to eventuate. The flux of electrons of
energy greater than 2MeV at geosynchronous orbit altitude is
currently high, which is associated with an increased risk of
satellite operational anomalies.
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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY
Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 24 Mar: G0
Estimated Indices 24 Mar : A K
Australian Region 12 23343222
Cocos Island 6 22222221
Darwin - --------
Townsville 12 23343222
Learmonth 13 33243232
Alice Springs 10 23233222
Gingin 14 33243332
Canberra 11 22343122
Kennaook Cape Grim 13 23343232
Hobart 12 23343222
Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 24 Mar :
Macquarie Island 26 33465321
Casey 19 44443232
Mawson 41 44443665
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 24 Mar :
Darwin NA
Townsville 0 (Quiet)
Learmonth 0 (Quiet)
Alice Springs 0 (Quiet)
Gingin 0 (Quiet)
Canberra 2 (Quiet)
Hobart 29 (Quiet to unsettled)
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 24 Mar : A
Fredericksburg 12
Planetary 17
Observed AFr/Ap Indices 23 Mar : A K
Fredericksburg 15
Planetary 28 5423 554-
2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST
Date Ap Conditions
25 Mar 14 G0, slight chance G1
26 Mar 11 G0
27 Mar 8 G0
COMMENT: ASWFC Geomagnetic Warning 20 was issued on 24 March
and is current for 24-26 Mar. G0 geomagnetic conditions were
observed in the Australian region on UT day 24-Mar. G0-G2 geomagnetic
conditions were observed in the Antarctic region. G0 conditions
are expected for 25-27 Mar, with a slight chance for isolated
G1 conditions on 25-Mar.
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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
Latitude Band
Date Low Middle High
24 Mar Normal Fair-normal Poor-fair
PCA Event : No event.
3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
Latitude Band
Date Low Middle High
25 Mar Normal Fair-normal Fair
26 Mar Normal Normal Normal-fair
27 Mar Normal Normal Normal-fair
COMMENT: HF radio propagation conditions on UT day 24-Mar were
poor to fair, with poor conditions at times at high latitudes.
A brief period of increased absorption was observed at Casey,
Davis and Mawson Antarctic riometers at 23/1800UT. HF radio propagation
conditions are expected to fair to normal at middle latitudes
and fair at high latitudes on 25-Mar with a slowly improving
trend over 26-27 Mar.
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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY
Date T index
24 Mar 52
Observed Australian Regional MUFs
Cocos Island Region:
Near predicted monthly values during local day.
Depressed by 35% during local night.
Niue Island Region:
No data.
Northern Australian Region:
Near predicted monthly values during local day.
Depressed by 20% during local night.
Southern Australian Region:
Depressed by 25% during local day.
Depressed by 15% during local night.
Antarctic Region (Casey/Davis/Mawson):
Depressed by 20% 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
25 Mar 70 Depressed 10 to 20%/near predicted monthly values
26 Mar 90 Near predicted monthly values
27 Mar 90 Near predicted monthly values
COMMENT: Maximum usable frequencies in the southern Australian
region on UT day 24-Mar were depressed 15-25%. In the northern
Australian region MUFs were 20% depressed during the local night.
Spread F was observed during the local night hours at Hobart,
Canberra, Brisbane and Perth. Australian regional MUFs are expected
to be mildly depressed by 10-20% to near predicted monthly values
on 25-Mar and near predicted monthly values over 26-27 Mar.
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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY
GOES satellite data for 23 Mar
Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV: 5.5E+06
Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV: 2.7E+04
Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 1.50E+08 (moderate fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability:13%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
X-ray background: B6.8
DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 23 Mar
Speed: 661 km/sec Density: 1.5 p/cc Temp: 152000 K Bz: -1 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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