Contemporary Space Weather Need: Going Beyond the Global Oscillation Network Group

Abstract

AbstractThe article “The Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) Facility—An Example of Research to Operations in Space Weather” by Frank Hill (https://doi.org/10.1029/2018SW002001) narrates how an instrument built for answering questions of basic research is playing a greater role in the field of space weather. In the past 25 years, the project has successfully produced fundamental results that have helped to fine tune stellar structure models and have resolved several outstanding problems in solar physics. It is also important to know the background coronal and solar wind environment in order to understand and adequately predict the transient events as this is the environment through which they propagate. The GONG magnetograms are useful as boundary conditions to construct the large‐scale magnetic field structure of the heliosphere and at times to detect the change in longitudinal field due to the solar flares. In order to advance the space weather prediction tools, it is necessary to study the magnetic and thermodynamic properties of the source regions of the transient events. The rich information contained in the polarized spectra originating at these locations that is currently measured by the “Synoptic Optical Long‐term Investigations of the Sun” instrument are most appropriate for this purpose. Although, GONG magnetograms have been, and continue to be, useful in understanding some aspects of space weather, there remains a need for new solar observing capabilities aimed at better understanding the “Transient Sun.” In this commentary, we describe the need for a GONG upgrade that will fully serve the Space Weather Community.