[Ips-hf-warning] ASWFC HF DEPRESSION WARNING issued 0207 UT on 17 Jan 2025 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

[Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre]

SUBJ: ASWFC HF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WARNING 25/09
ISSUED AT 0203UT/17 JANUARY 2025
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE.

East coast Australian MUFs are depressed 15-25% so far today 
and have not recovered as quickly as expected, following mild 
geomagnetic activity induced by a coronal hole wind stream. Perth 
and Learmonth MUFs are currently near normal to 15% enhanced. 
Australian east coast MUFs remain expected to recover later today.

DEGRADED HF PROPAGATION CONDITIONS EXPECTED
FOR 17 JANUARY 2025
IF COMMS DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED TRY A LOWER FREQUENCY BAND
_____________________________________________________________

HF COMMUNICATIONS FORECAST (EAST AUSTRALIAN/NEW ZEALAND REGION)
                                   FREQUENCY BANDS
       T-index      MUFs        2  4  6  8 12 16 22 26
_____________________________________________________________
17 Jan:   55   -20%/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