Report outlines continued importance of ground‐based solar studies

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Observations of the Sun from space have provided some stunning imagery and scientific data that could not be gained from the Earth. But a new report emphasizes that ground‐based solar observations continue to be vital, and that there is an urgent need to develop a coherent strategy for ground‐based research in the United States that addresses aging facilities and limited capabilities to pursue important scientific problems.The report by the Space Studies Board of the National Research Council,“Ground‐Based Solar Research: An Assessment and Strategy for the Future,” says that ground‐based programs are required for research involving spatial and temporal resolution and long‐term synoptic coverage. In addition, the report notes that ground‐based facilities provide the solar‐physics community with easy accessibility, are a means for providing hands‐on education for the next generation of solar researchers, are relatively easy to repair or replace, and typically cost far less than space‐based instruments.