U.S. Space Environment Center renamed

Abstract

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Environment Center changed its name on 1 October to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. The new name reflects the rapidly growing importance of solar storm forecasts to the nation's economy and security, explained the center's director, Thomas Bogdan. Adverse space weather can disrupt power grids, disturb communications and navigation systems, interrupt satellite signals, and increase radiation doses to astronauts as well as to airline crews and passengers. For more information, see http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/.