Abstract
The Solar Activity Magnetic Monitor (SAMM) Network (SAMNet) is a future UK-led international network of ground-based solar telescope stations. SAMNet, at its full capacity, will continuously monitor the Sun’s intensity, magnetic, and Doppler velocity fields at multiple heights in the solar atmosphere (from photosphere to upper chromosphere). Each SAMM sentinel will be equipped with a cluster of identical telescopes each with a different magneto-optical filter (MOFs) to take observations in K I, Na D, and Ca I spectral bands. A subset of SAMM stations will have white-light coronagraphs and emission line coronal spectropolarimeters. The objectives of SAMNet are to provide observational data for space weather research and forecast. The goal is to achieve an operationally sufficient lead time of e.g., flare warning of 2–8 h and provide many sought-after continuous synoptic maps (e.g., LoS magnetic and velocity fields, intensity) of the lower solar atmosphere with a spatial resolution limited only by seeing or diffraction limit, and with a cadence of 10 min. The individual SAMM sentinels will be connected to their master HQ hub where data received from all the slave stations will be automatically processed and flare warning issued up to 26 h in advance.
Highlights
The Earth’s atmosphere and the magnetosphere are constantly buffeted by a continuous flow of solar particles originating in the solar atmosphere
After a short historic account, we briefly outline the current realisation of a magneto-optical filter (MOF)-based solar telescope that has been built on these earlier developments
Potassium and sodium MOFs are routinely used in solar studies, to the best of our knowledge, there is currently limited application of the Ca-I MOF to solar physics
Summary
The Earth’s atmosphere and the magnetosphere are constantly buffeted by a continuous flow of solar particles originating in the solar atmosphere. When a CME associated with a flare arrives to Earth several days later, its interaction with Earth’s magnetosphere may trigger geomagnetic storms, with the additional (sometimes dramatic) consequences for various technological systems critical to our civilization (e.g., natural gas and oil pipelines, power lines, telecommunication, navigation etc) These societal assets and services are vital for the economic welfare and security of every citizen, but may be subject to failure due to solar activity, as it has happened in the past (see e.g. Eastwood et al, 2017). With the Solar Activity Monitor Network (SAMNet) we take a step in the direction to develop a ground-based facility for advanced space weather warning, in particular, to improve flare forecasting. Novel flare prediction methods recently developed have already demonstrated, through observations and 3D simulations of Active Region (AR) dynamics, that information about the magnetic field at various heights in the lower solar atmosphere, in particular in the chromosphere, has the potential to considerably improve forecasting lead times.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
