Abstract
In 1989 the Council of the Royal Society of London established a Study Group to investigate the current status and future requirements of solar-terrestrial monitoring in the United Kingdom. This paper summarizes the conclusions and recommendations of the U.K. Study Group. The rationale for regular synoptic monitoring of the solar-terrestrial environment is reviewed briefly. Instruments used for solar-terrestrial monitoring in U.K.-supported research programmes are listed, with special emphasis on research instruments that produce monitoring data. Some important applications of solar-terrestrial monitoring are outlined and criteria are presented for determining the priorities of various monitoring operations. High priority is attached to monitoring operations that are important for: 1. (i) deriving geophysical models and reference systems; 2. (ii) calculating the principal solar-geophysical indices; 3. (iii) producing long time series of good data, especially at sites of particular geophysical interest; (iv) detecting global changes; 4. (v) contributing to real-time forecasts of solar-terrestrial conditions, or to longer-term predictions and planning; and 5. (vi) providing background data for other observations and experiments. The existing U.K. programmes of solar-terrestrial monitoring make a highly prestigious contribution to national and international scientific activity. Synoptic measurements of the solar-terrestrial environment are crucial for underpinning present and future programmes of basic, strategic and applied research. Therefore, a core programme of synoptic monitoring must be maintained in the U.K. It is recommended that this core programme should be financed centrally through the Research Councils and reviewed quinquennially.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have