[Ips-hf-warning] ASWFC HF DEPRESSION WARNING issued 2347 UT on 04 Aug 2024 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

[Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre]

SUBJ: ASWFC HF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WARNING 24/85
ISSUED AT 2347UT/04 AUGUST 2024
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE.

Geomagnetic storm activity has been observed on 04-Aug, reaching 
G3 planetary and G2 in the Australian region. Southern Australian 
region MUFs are depressed 15-20% after local dawn this morning. 
Northern Australian region MUFs are near normal. Southern Australian 
region MUFs are expected to recover later today.

DEGRADED HF PROPAGATION CONDITIONS EXPECTED
FOR 05 AUGUST 2024
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 Aug:   90   -15%/normal      2  4  6  8 12 12 16 22

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