Alexi Glover

Understanding space weather to shield society : A global road map for 2015-2025 commissioned by COSPAR and ILWS

There is a growing appreciation that the environmental conditions that we call space weather impact the technological infrastructure that powers the coupled economies around the world. With that co ...

SEPEM: A tool for statistical modeling the solar energetic particle environment

Solar energetic particle (SEP) events are a serious radiation hazard for spacecraft as well as a severe health risk to humans traveling in space. Indeed, accurate modeling of the SEP environment constitutes a priority requirement for astrophysics and solar system missions and for human exploration in space. The European Space Agencys Solar Energetic Particle Environment Modelling (SEPEM) application server is a World Wide Web interface to a complete set of cross-calibrated data ranging from 1973 to 2013 as well as new SEP engineering models and tools. Both statistical and physical modeling techniques have been included, in order to cover the environment not only at 1u2009AU but also in the inner heliosphere ranging from 0.2u2009AU to 1.6u2009AU using a newly developed physics-based shock-and-particle model to simulate particle flux profiles of gradual SEP events. With SEPEM, SEP peak flux and integrated fluence statistics can be studied, as well as durations of high SEP flux periods. Furthermore, effects tools are also included to allow calculation of single event upset rate and radiation doses for a variety of engineering scenarios.

Renewed Support Dawns in Europe: An Action to Develop Space Weather Products and Services

The effects of space weather span a range of sectors. They can cause radio communications problems; can disrupt synthetic aperture radar systems, the Global Positioning System (GPS), and the future European Galileo systems; and can increase radiation risks for aircraft crew and passengers. Electric power network disturbances and enhanced corrosion effects observed in long-distance fuel supply pipelines are other well-known effects of unfavorable space weather. In severe cases, large-scale power outages have also been traced to space weather phenomena (Figure 1). Research efforts in various countries—including the U.S. multiagency National Space Weather Program (http:// www.nswp.gov), the International Space Environment Service (ISES; http://www.ises-spaceweather.org/), and several European initiatives sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (EC)—have demonstrated that adverse space weather poses a tangible threat to humans and modern technological systems and assets on the ground, in the air, and in space. Although methods to model some aspects of space weather have been developed by these agencies, all agree that their performance needs to be improved—in many cases, prediction accuracy is inadequate to allow the transition from models to reliable operational services. Further targeted research and development is needed. Funding for coordinated space weather science and applications effects in Europe has so far been on a project-by-project basis. Systematic national contributions to a pan-European space weather program are not yet in place, leading to fragmentation of European space weather initiatives. A certain level of

Services for GNSS users within the ESA Space Situational Awareness Space Weather Service Network

Ionospheric Space Weather can adversely degrade the performance of radio systems in communication, space based navigation and remote sensing. Navigation signals transmitted by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are delayed, refracted and diffracted by the highly variable ionosphere affecting the accuracy, availability, continuity and integrity of GNSS signals which can be crucial in safety of life and precise positioning applications. Therefore detection, monitoring and prediction of ionospheric effects are important for mitigating such impact. In the frame of its Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme, the European Space Agency (ESA) is establishing a Space Weather Service Network to support end-users, in a wide range of affected sectors, in mitigating the effects of space weather on their systems, reducing costs and improving reliability. In this paper we present an overview of the current status of the network, the targeted end user groups and Expert Service Centers (ESCs). Focusing on the ESC for Ionospheric Weather (I-ESC), we report on the currently available products and tools as well as on the recent and ongoing activities in expanding the network for this domain.

Services for Space Mission support within the ESA Space Situational Awareness Space Weather Service Network.

Spacecraft operations are by nature complex and every satellites operational environment poses a range of potential risks, often a unique combination for a given orbit. The implications of interruptions of operations, data transfer and service provision, are serious, both in terms of cost and capability, thus it is imperative to mitigate against all operational risks to the fullest extent possible. In the frame of its Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme, the European Space Agency (ESA) is establishing a Space Weather Service Network to support end-users, in a wide range of affected sectors, in mitigating the effects of space weather on their systems, reducing costs and improving reliability. This service network is currently in a test and validation phase and encourages user engagement and feedback. The network is organised around five Expert Service Centres (ESCs) focusing on Solar Weather, Heliospheric Weather, Space Radiation Environment, Ionospheric Weather and Geomagnetic Conditions. Each ESC is connecting different expert groups, federating their space weather products, and ensuring the quality and consistency of the provided information. The service network also includes a central Data Centre and the SSA Space Weather Coordination Centre (SSCC). In this presentation we give an overview of the current status of the network (http://swe.ssa.esa.int/), the targeted end-user groups and Expert Service Centres with a focus on the space community.

Services for Spacecraft Operations support within the ESA Space Situational Awareness Space Weather Service Network

Spacecraft operations are by nature complex and every satellites operational environment poses a range of potential risks, often a unique combination for a given orbit. The implications of interruptions of operations, data transfer and service provision, are serious, both in terms of cost and capability, thus it is imperative to mitigate against all operational risks to the fullest extent possible. In the frame of its Space Situational Awareness (SSA) programme, the European Space Agency (ESA) is establishing a Space Weather Service Network to support end-users, in a wide range of affected sectors, in mitigating the effects of space weather on their systems, reducing costs and improving reliability. This service network is currently in a test and validation phase and encourages user engagement and feedback. The network is organised around five Expert Service Centres (ESCs) focusing on Solar Weather, Heliospheric Weather, Space Radiation Environment, Ionospheric Weather and Geomagnetic Conditions. Each ESC is connecting different expert groups, federating their space weather products, and ensuring the quality and consistency of the provided information. The service network also includes a central Data Centre and the SSA Space Weather Coordination Centre (SSCC). In this presentation we give an overview of the current status of the network (http://swe.ssa.esa.int/), the targeted end-user groups and Expert Service Centres with a focus on the space community. Keywords—space weather, space situational awareness, service network