[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 28 March 26 issued 2331 UT on 28 Mar 2026 [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre
aswfc at bom.gov.au
Sun Mar 29 10:31:30 AEDT 2026
SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/28 MARCH 2026
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 28 MARCH AND FORECAST FOR 29 MARCH - 31 MARCH
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** YELLOW ** MAG:** YELLOW ** ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 28 Mar: R1
Flares Max Fadeout Freq. Sectors
M1.3 0418UT possible lower E. Asia/Aust.
Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 28 Mar: 162/116
1B. SOLAR FORECAST
29 Mar 30 Mar 31 Mar
Activity R0-R1 R0-R1 R0-R1
Fadeouts Possible Possible Possible
10.7cm/SSN 160/114 158/112 155/109
COMMENT: Solar activity on UT day 28-Mar was R1 due to an M1.3
flare from AR4405 (S24E60, beta-gamma). The flare was a slow
rise long duration event and had an associated CME. The small
intermediate spots within this region have redistributed. Solar
region AR4401 (N26W11, beta) was flare quiet and is showing decay
in its trailer spots and redistribution in its leader spots.
These two medium sized regions are the largest of the on disk
regions. Smaller AR4404 (N17E54, beta) produced an isolated C4.1
flare at 28/1135UT. There are currently eight solar regions on
the visible solar disk. Most regions are smaller in size. All
other sunspot regions are either stable or in decay. Solar activity
is expected to be R0-R1 over 29-31 Mar. No Earth directed CMEs
have been observed. A southeast directed CME associated with
the M1.3 flare was observed from 28/0348UT in LASCO and 28/0442UT
in STERE0-A space based coronagraph imagery and was modelled
as an Earth miss, passing well behind the Earth. A very narrow
faint northeast CME was observed from 28/1212UT and is not considered
significant. S0 solar radiation storm conditions were observed
on UT day 28-Mar. S0 solar radiation storm conditions are expected
over 29-31 Mar. An isolated coronal hole is visible in the northwest
solar quadrant and another is visible in the southeast solar
quadrant. The solar wind speed on UT day 28-Mar was light to
moderate. The solar wind ranged from 344 to 405 km/s and is currently
at 359 km/s. The peak total interplanetary field strength (IMF,
Bt) was 7 nT and the north-south IMF component range (Bz) was
+2 to -7 nT. The IMF Bz component was periodically mildly southward
by up to -5nT during the UT day. From 28/2017UT a small increase
was observed in the IMF total field to 7nT and the IMF became
very steady with the Bz component also steady at -7nT southward
for the interval 28/2017-2205UT. Whilst the increase in IMF Bt
is small it may indicate an indistinct very weak CME transient,
though other solar wind parameters did not show a deflection.
The solar wind environment is expected to initially be near background
levels early on 29-Mar. Solar wind 27 day recurrence patterns
suggest that the coronal hole located in the northwest solar
quadrant will moderately increase the solar wind speed from late
in the UT day on 29-Mar to 31-Mar. The flux of electrons with
an energy of greater than 2 MeV at geosynchronous orbit as measured
by the US GOES satellite has been enhanced, which is statistically
associated with the increased risk of geosynchronous satellite
operational anomalies.
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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY
Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 28 Mar: G0
Estimated Indices 28 Mar : A K
Australian Region 6 22221212
Cocos Island 5 21221211
Darwin 6 22221212
Townsville 5 22221112
Learmonth - --------
Alice Springs 4 21221111
Gingin 6 21221222
Canberra 5 21221212
Kennaook Cape Grim 6 22221222
Hobart 6 22221212
Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 28 Mar :
Macquarie Island 12 22443211
Casey 10 34221222
Mawson 31 53333356
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 28 Mar :
Darwin 0 (Quiet)
Townsville 0 (Quiet)
Learmonth NA
Alice Springs 0 (Quiet)
Gingin 0 (Quiet)
Canberra 0 (Quiet)
Hobart 0 (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 28 Mar : A
Fredericksburg 9
Planetary 9
Observed AFr/Ap Indices 27 Mar : A K
Fredericksburg 6
Planetary 7 2222 122-
2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST
Date Ap Conditions
29 Mar 13 G0, chance G1
30 Mar 19 G0-G1
31 Mar 15 G0, chance G1
COMMENT: ASWFC Geomagnetic Warning 21 was issued on 27 March
and is current for 29-31 Mar. G0 geomagnetic conditions were
observed in the Australian region on UT day 28-Mar. G0-G1 geomagnetic
conditions were observed in the Antarctic region. The Earth is
expected to enter a moderate coronal hole wind stream late on
29-Mar with G0-G1 conditions likely 30-31 Mar. In addition, if
the periodic mildly southward IMF conditions currently being
observed persist, this may also induce a G1 period on 29-Mar.
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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
Latitude Band
Date Low Middle High
28 Mar Normal Fair-normal Fair-normal
PCA Event : No event.
3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
Latitude Band
Date Low Middle High
29 Mar Normal Normal-fair Fair
30 Mar Normal Fair Fair
31 Mar Normal Fair-normal Fair
COMMENT: HF radio propagation on UT day 28-Mar were fair to normal,
with fair conditions at middle to high latitudes. HF radio propagation
conditions are expected to be initially normal on 29-Mar, then
becoming fair. HF conditions may become mildly degraded during
30-31 Mar at middle to high latitudes, particularly during local
night hours. Isolated minor fadeouts are possible.
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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY
Date T index
28 Mar 94
Observed Australian Regional MUFs
Cocos Island Region:
Near predicted monthly values during local day.
Depressed by 20% during local night.
Niue Island Region:
Enhanced by 45% during local day.
Enhanced by 25% during local night.
Northern Australian Region:
Enhanced by 15% during local day.
Near predicted monthly values during local night.
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 98
Mar 87
Apr 85
4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date T index MUFs
29 Mar 90 Near predicted monthly values
30 Mar 80 Depressed 10 to 15%/near predicted monthly values
31 Mar 75 Depressed 10 to 15%/near predicted monthly values
COMMENT: Maximum usable frequencies (MUFs) in the Australian
region on UT day 28-Mar were generally near predicted values
to 15% enhanced. 15% depressions were observed at times at Hobart
during the local day. Southern Australian region MUFs were 15%
depressed after local dawn this morning. Spread F was observed
at Hobart during the local night. MUFs are expected to be near
predicted monthly values for 29-Mar and 15% depressed to near
predicted monthly values during 30-31 Mar in association with
mild geomagnetic activity associated with a coronal hole wind
stream. Isolated minor fadeouts are possible.
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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY
GOES satellite data for 27 Mar
Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV: 1.5E+06
Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV: 1.7E+04
Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 3.10E+08 (moderate fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability:19%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
X-ray background: C1.1
DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 27 Mar
Speed: 415 km/sec Density: 0.2 p/cc Temp: 58300 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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