Space Weather Week Research Articles

Quo vadis, European Space Weather community?

This paper was written by a group of European researchers believing that now is the right time to frame the Space Weather and Space Climate discipline in Europe for future years. It is devoted to openly discussing the organisation and sustainability of the European Space Weather community and its assets in the (near) future. More specifically, we suggest that the European Space Weather community lacks a uniting organisation to help the community to sustain and develop the successful efforts made thus far. Our aim is not to draw a complete and exhaustive panorama of Space Weather throughout the world, nor even throughout Europe. It is not a new white paper on the science and applications: there exist many (e.g. Tsurutani et al., 2020 Nonlinear Processes Geophys 27(1): 75–119); nor another roadmap: several important have been published recently (e.g. Schrijver et al., 2015. Adv Space Res 55(12): 2745–2807; Opgenoorth et al., 2019. J Space Weather Space Clim 9: A37). Our aim is to question our practices and organisation in front of several changes that have occurred in the recent years and to set the ground to provide coordinated answers to these questions being posed in Europe, and to make these answers discussed throughout the world. This group was assembled first through a series of sessions devoted to the sustainability of Space Weather research during the European Space Weather Week (ESWW) series of meetings, specifically: ESWW 14 (2017), ESWW 15 (2018), and ESWW 16 (2019). It then grew from discussions and personal contacts. The authors do not pretend to identify the full range of opinions in Europe, although they do come from 13 different European countries with a large span of ages (around half are below the age of 40 years old at the time of writing) with a good gender balance ending with a diverse mix of young and motivated scientists and senior people who have played a role in shaping the Space Weather community in Europe. The questions and the propositions to organise Space Weather in Europe in the future result from their discussions through these meetings and through remote meetings during the pandemic. We wish to share them with all those who consider themselves as members of the European Space Weather community and/or are interested in its future and to propose actions. We do this, bearing in mind that Europe plays a key international role in Space Weather which extends beyond the ESA and EU/EC geographic area.

Summary of the plenary sessions at European Space Weather Week 15: space weather users and service providers working together now and in the future

During European Space Weather Week 15 two plenary sessions were held to review the status of operational space weather forecasting. The first session addressed the topic of working with space weather service providers now and in the future, the user perspective. The second session provided the service perspective, addressing experiences in forecasting development and operations. Presentations in both sessions provided an overview of international efforts on these topics, and panel discussion topics arising in the first session were used as a basis for panel discussion in the second session. Discussion topics included experiences during the September 2017 space weather events, cross domain impacts, timeliness of notifications, and provision of effective user education. Users highlighted that a severe space weather event did not necessarily lead to severe impacts for each individual user across the different sectors. Service providers were generally confident that timely and reliable information could be provided during severe and extreme events, although stressed that more research and funding were required in this relatively new field of operational space weather forecasting, to ensure continuation of capabilities and further development of services, in particular improved forecasting targeting user needs. Here a summary of the sessions is provided followed by a commentary on the current state-of-the-art and potential next steps towards improvement of services.

Summary of Stakeholder Inputs on Development of a Satellite Anomaly Database From the European Space Weather Week

AbstractStakeholders met at the recent European Space Weather Week to discuss the development of a satellite anomaly database. This summary reviews the presentations and suggestions given at the discussion session. Presenters reviewed ongoing international efforts to collect and distribute satellite anomaly information. Well‐defined suggestions were given for different possible frameworks. Group discussion after suggested that a way forward would be to first demonstrate the utility of an anomaly database with available public anomaly information. More discussion is needed to define the exact framework for future implementation.

Discussions on Stakeholder Requirements for Space Weather‐Related Models

AbstractParticipants of the 2017 European Space Weather Week in Ostend, Belgium, discussed the stakeholder requirements for space weather‐related models. It was emphasized that stakeholders show an increased interest in space weather‐related models. Participants of the meeting discussed particular prediction indicators that can provide first‐order estimates of the impact of space weather on engineering systems.

Space Weather Concerns for All‐Electric Propulsion Satellites

AbstractThe introduction of all‐electric propulsion satellites is a game changer in the quest for low‐cost access to space. It also raises new questions for satellite manufacturers, operators, and the insurance industry regarding the general risks and specifically the threat of adverse space weather. The issues surrounding this new concept were discussed by research scientists and up to 30 representatives from the space industry at a special meeting at the European Space Weather Week held in November 2014. Here we report on the discussions at that meeting. We show that for a satellite undergoing electric orbit raising for 200 days the radiation dose due to electrons is equivalent to approximately 6.7 year operation at geostationary orbit or approximately half the typical design life. We also show that electrons can be injected into the slot region (8000 km) where they pose a risk of satellite internal charging. The results highlight the importance of additional radiation protection. We also discuss the benefits, the operational considerations, the other risks from the Van Allen radiation belts, the new business opportunities for space insurance, and the need for space situation awareness in medium Earth orbit where electric orbit raising takes place.

Exploitation, dissemination, education and outreach in the frame of the COST actionES0803“developing space weather products and services in Europe”

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is one of the longest-running European frameworks supporting cooperation among scientists and researchers across Europe. Its action ES0803 “Developing Space Weather Products and Services in Europe” involves the task “Exploitation, Dissemination, Education and Outreach”. To meet the objectives of this task, we describe how we developed and maintained the Space Weather Portal , initiated the electronic Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate, took care of the scientific organization of the annual European Space Weather Week conference and of two schools for scientists and students from the space weather community. We also describe several dissemination projects supported by the action, which target the non-specialist in the field of space weather.

Space Weather Workshop: A Catalyst for Partnerships

Space Weather Workshop: A Catalyst for Partnerships

Third Space Weather Summit Held for Industry and Government Agencies

The potential for space weather effects has been increasing significantly in recent years. For instance, in 2008 airlines flew about 8000 transpolar flights, which experience greater exposure to space weather than nontranspolar flights. This is up from 368 transpolar flights in 2000, and the number of such flights is expected to continue to grow. Transpolar flights are just one example of the diverse technologies susceptible to space weather effects identified by the National Research Council’s Severe Space Weather Events—Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts: A Workshop Report (2008). To discuss issues related to the increasing need for reliable space weather information, experts from industry and government agencies met at the third summit of the Commercial Space Weather Interest Group (CSWIG) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), held 30 April 2009 during Space Weather Week (SWW), in Boulder, Colo. Devrie Intriligator (Carmel Research Center, Inc.) and W. Kent Tobiska (Space Environment Technologies (SET)) cochaired the summit. In opening the session, Intriligator praised SWPC and Thomas Bogdan, its director, for implementing CSWIG’s request for External Space Weather Data Store (E-SWDS), a near–real time operational database electronic communication method between SWPC and external core partner users. Bogdan discussed SWPC priorities, goals, and plans. Bogdan said he anticipates that more stable budgets will enable SWPC to continue hardware modernization, hire and train forecasters, and put the ENLIL model into operation. He noted that SWPC is working with NOAA aviation and other core entities on overlapping concerns involving space weather. David Bouwer (SET), who represented CSWIG during the E-SWDS implementation, praised the SWPC staff, summarized E-SWDS’s advantages, and answered questions about E-SWDS. Intriligator raised CSWIG’s concerns about the quality and availability of data, including data from a possible replacement for the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite at Lagrange point L1 and from satellites such as National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), and Defense Meteorological Satellites Program (DMSP). Intriligator stressed that a rapid launch of an L1 replacement is urgently needed because ACE is unable to return reliable real-time solar wind data during space weather events such as the 2003 Halloween storm (NOAA Technical Memorandum OAR SEC-88, “Halloween space weather storms of 2003”). In addition, other ACE instruments, such as its low-energy particle detectors, have suffered degradation. Many space weather forecasts need ACE and other data as inputs. If the crucial real-time input data are not available, the space weather community may not be able to test and validate forecasting models during the upcoming solar maximum. To address this situation, Bogdan discussed two possible options: buying data from a commercial satellite at L1, and an interagency cooperative launch of Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR), a satellite that NASA has built but not launched due to funding issues. Bogdan also summarized the National Space Weather Program (NSWP) participation in the Committee for Space Environmental Sensor Mitigation Options (CSESMO) with Office of Science and Technology Policy and Office of Management and Budget staff. Michael Bonadonna (Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology) summarized recent NSWP activities, including updating NSWP, determining the scope of CSESMO activities, and organizing the 2009 Space Weather Enterprise Forum. In addition, Bonadonna discussed the 2006 “Report of the Assessment Committee for the National Space Weather Program”

Preface "The 3rd European Space Weather Week"

This volume is composed of papers presented at the 3rd European Space Weather Week. The meeting took place at the Royal Library of Belgium between 13‐17 November 2006. This event built on the advances made during the first two European Space Weather Weeks held at ESA/ESTEC in 2004 and 2005. The 2006 meeting adopted the central aim of bringing together diverse communities working on all elements of space weather. The organizers are pleased to see this reflected in the papers published in this special issue, the following publications covering a range of space weather oriented advances in both scientific research and transitioning new research into applications. The 2006 event specifically focused on new results through a cross-disciplinary “hot topics” session. The agenda also focused on a number of topical thematic issues from both scientific and applications oriented perspectives. New tools and techniques were discussed and demonstrated during the workshop with a view to aiding the transition between new scientific results and space weather services. The meeting also aimed to facilitate community development and investigation of possible routes towards the creation of a sustainable space weather activity in Europe. The meeting was attended by more than two hundred participants from almost 30 countries including strong participation from many Eastern European states, leading to many fruitful discussions. Meeting organisation was carried out jointly between the Solar Influences Data analysis Center (SIDC) at the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB), ESA, the SWWT, the COST 724 and COST 296 communities. The local organization was done by the SIDC. The meeting website can be found at: http://sidc.oma.be/ esww3. The chairpersons of the meeting J. Lilensten and A. Glover would like to express their thanks to all members of the Organising Committee, namely A. Belehaki, A. Hilgers, A. Bourdillon, M. Rycroft, M. Hapgood, F. Lefeuvre, P.‘Gille and R. Van der Linden together with the Local Organising Committee for their support and hard work to ensure a successful meeting.

Commercial Space Tourism and Space Weather

Commercial Space Tourism and Space Weather

November 2004 space weather events: Real‐time observations and forecasts

Space weather events with their solar origin and their distribution through the heliosphere affect the whole magnetosphere‐ionosphere‐Earth system. Their real‐time monitoring and forecasting are important for science and technology. Here we discuss one of the largest space weather events of Solar Cycle 23, in November 2004, which was also one of the most difficult periods to forecast. Nine halo coronal mass ejections (CMEs), interacting on their way through the interplanetary medium and forming two geoeffective interplanetary structures, exemplify the complexity of the event. Real‐time and quasi‐real‐time observations of the ground geomagnetic field show rapid and extensive expansion of the auroral oval to 55° in geomagnetic latitude accompanied by great variability of the ionosphere. Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) seen in ground networks, such as power grids and pipelines, were significant during the event, although no problems were reported. Forecasts of the CME propagation, global and local ground geomagnetic activity, and ionospheric parameters, issued by several regional warning centers, revealed certain deficiencies in predictions of the interplanetary characteristics of the CME, size of the geomagnetic disturbances, and complexity of the ionospheric variations produced by this event. This paper is a collective report based on the materials presented at the splinter session on November 2004 events during the first European Space Weather Week.

NOAA's Space Weather Week Scheduled for Late April

U.S. Space Weather Week, an annual conference for industry, academia, and government agencies to discuss topics related to space weather, will be held 25–28 April 2006 in Boulder, Colorado. Sponsored and hosted by NOAA's Space Environment Center (SEC), with additional support from NASA and the National Science Foundation, the conference will address the effects of space weather on current technology, such as the maintenance of communications, navigation systems, spacecraft operations, aviation, and electric power. Sessions will also help identify high-priority needs for future research, with the goal of fostering communication among scientists, space weather service provides, and users of space weather services. The event will open with a keynote speech by John Phillips, a space weather scientist and a former Navy pilot who joined NASA in 1996. Phillips, who flew aboard the STS-100/Endeavour in 2001 and served a six-month tour of duty aboard the International Space Station in 2005, will speak about his experiences and the future of deep space exploration, as outlined by NASA's Space Exploration Initiative. “There are a lot of things going on, even though this is a solar minimum,” said William Murtagh, a space weather forecaster at the SEC and the lead conference coordinator for Space Weather Week. “You'd think otherwise, but it's really not the case.” For example, presenters will give updates on long-term, large-scale modeling efforts of the ionosphere and Sun-to-Earth coupled systems. Session topics and poster presentations will also include current research on dosimeters, radiation hazards on missions to the Moon and Mars, international activities and collaborations, and the status of satellite missions, such as the expected launch of NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) to study the Sun and the nature of coronal mass ejections. In addition, Space Weather Week will strongly feature the aviation community. As the number of commercial flights increases, with more flights directed over the poles, “the airline industry has identified space weather as a primary concern,” explained Murtagh. “Moreover, commercial space transportation is no longer a fringe business.” Longer flights that take a more orbital phase, and space tourism will be discussed at the conference. Attendees will include representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and Virgin Galactic. Though the conference officially starts on 25 April, on 24 April Space Weather Week will unofficially kick off with a half-day information session for local high school juniors and seniors. Phillips will speak about his experiences as an astronaut, and representatives from Lockheed Martin, graduate students from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and others will address more than 300 expected high school attendees. “The goal is to enlighten students on the career opportunities available in space science and industry,” said Murtagh. More information about Space Weather Week can be found at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/sww/index.html. Mohi Kumar is a staff writer for the American Geophysical Union.

Second European Space Weather Week

International scientists and applications experts gathered to consider a new generation of space weather activities in Europe.

Annual International Space Environment Service Meeting held at Space Weather Week

Annual International Space Environment Service Meeting held at Space Weather Week

<i>Preface</i> An introduction to the 1st European Space Weather Week (ESWW)

<i>Preface</i> An introduction to the 1st European Space Weather Week (ESWW)

Late Solar Cycle Events Featured in Space Weather Week 2005

Researchers, the airline industry, and NASA representatives met in Colorado to discuss radiation hazards, modeling capacities, and space weather's impact on space exploration initiatives.

Second European Space Weather Week Set for November

Scientists and applications experts will once again gather in the Netherlands to discuss current activities and future plans in space weather.

Large Turnout for First‐Ever European Space Weather Week

Space weather scientists and applications experts discuss the past, present, and future of space weather activities in Europe

First‐Ever European Space Weather Week

Conference organizers emphasize the science and applications of space weather with a special effort to involve European agencies