[Ips-hf-warning] ASWFC HF DEPRESSION WARNING issued 2122 UT on 05 Nov 2023 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

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SUBJ: ASWFC HF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WARNING 23/110
ISSUED AT 2122UT/05 NOVEMBER 2023
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE.

A recent geomagnetic storm has been observed and depressions 
to maximum usable frequencies (MUFs) of 45% and heavily degraded 
HF communication conditions have been observed in the Australian 
region during local night hours. Depressions of 10-30% are expected 
during local daylight hours on 06-Nov and 07-Nov. Degraded conditions 
are expected to continue, with the strongest degradations and MUF depressions
expected during local night hours. Equatorial scintillation is possible 
over this period.

DEGRADED HF PROPAGATION CONDITIONS EXPECTED
FROM 05-07 NOVEMBER 2023
IF COMMS DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED TRY A LOWER FREQUENCY BAND
_____________________________________________________________

HF COMMUNICATIONS FORECAST (AUSTRALIAN/NEW ZEALAND REGION)
                                   FREQUENCY BANDS
       T-index      MUFs        2  4  6  8 12 16 22 26
_____________________________________________________________
05 Nov:  100          -45%      2  4  4  4  6  8 12 12
06 Nov:  100   -45%/normal      2  4  4  4  6  8 12 12
07 Nov:  100   -25%/normal      2  4  6  8  8 12 16 16

Note:
An ASWFC MUF depression HF Warning and ASWFC shortwave fadeout 
HF Warning are both current. Shortwave fadeouts degrade 
lower shortwave radio frequencies first (through increased 
ionospheric absorption) and the usual strategy during shortwave 
fadeouts is to try a higher frequency. In contrast, during 
periods of ionospheric MUF depression, the upper frequencies 
are degraded first and the usual strategy is to use a 
lower frequency. 

In general use a lower frequency if you are having trouble
with your normal workable frequency.

If a shortwave fadeout occurs during a period when ionospheric 
MUFs are depressed the available HF bandwidth will be "squeezed", 
with increased absorption raising the lowest usable frequency 
and the ionospheric depression lowering the highest usable 
frequency. Under such conditions it is suggested that the 
HF communicator operates on the highest usable frequency, 
even though this may well be in fact lower than what is normally 
supported for that particular circuit.

Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
ASWFC at bom.gov.au
www.bom.gov.au | www.sws.bom.gov.au