Geomagnetic disturbance forecasting at the Ionospheric Prediction Service

Abstract

The lonospheric Prediction Service (IPS), a branch of the Department of Science. provides routine frequency predictions for users of HF communications within Australia and the Asian-Pacific region. To supplement this service. IPS operates the Sydney Regional Warning Centre which has the responsibility to provide forecasts of geomagnetic disturbances and associated ionospheric disturbances. Examples of this latter group of users are people involved in gcophysical surveying for minerals: pipeline authorities interested in minimizing corrosion in long pipclines: and electrical authorities interested in preventing damage to power transmission grids. Satellites can also be damaged, or even lost completely. through solar-induced disturbances to the sun-carth environment and so the coming launch of Australia's domestic satellites is expected to increase the demand for IPS Radio and Space services in this direction.