NASA conducts research on space weather through various missions such as SOHO, STEREO, and ACE to collect data on solar activity. NASA develops models using this data to forecast space weather events and their impacts. NASA provides space weather data, models, and forecasts to support other agencies and protect infrastructure like power grids from geomagnetically induced currents.

1. NASA Research & Research Missions: Addressing Space Weather Hazards Michael Hesse Chief, Space Weather Laboratory NASA GSFC 49th Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium - More than you imagine - March 31, 2011

3. Data/information

4. Models

5. DisseminationNASA plays key role in all aspects

8. Instruments operating normally

9. Providing beacon data

12. Geosynch orbit

15. Prime Solar Wind information source

17. 2 S/C, 5.8RE apogee, 600km perigee, 10 degree inclination

18. 2 year nominal mission lifetime

19. The RBSP Space Weather (SW) broadcast will be a transmission like those on ACE and STEREO.

22. Model solar eruptions

23. Predict their impacts

25. Research

26. Education

27. Model testing and validation

28. SWx forecasting for NASA’s robotic missions

29. Other national needsSpace Weather Laboratory at GSFC http://swl.gsfc.nasa.gov

30. CME Forecasting, April 3, 2010 Event STEREO-behind Available since 2006 CME detection SOHO Parameters used to start forecasting models STEREO-ahead

31. April 3 CME model/forecast Expected impact: 13:30Z April 5

32. Solar energetic particle forecasts Solar Energetic Particle Forecast model (M. Nunez, U. Malaga) Solar Energetic Particle Forecast model (A. Posner)

33. RBSP Data Source for Assimilative Radiation Belt Model (DREAM) GEO & GPS & Polar Observations Data Assimilation Model Modeled HEO Fluxes Measured HEO Fluxes R. Friedel/LANL

34. Ionosphere/Communication

35. Neutral Atmosphere Heating Rate Drag effects

36. 19 Solar Shield:Protecting the Power Grid Geomagnetically induced current (GIC)

37. Level 1 forecasts NASA observations of explosions on the Sun drive modern model calculations. SOHO and STEREO data used. Model output at the Earth used in a statistical model tp provide probabilistic estimate for GIC at individual nodes of the power grid. GIC forecast file is generated. Model propagates the disturbance to the Earth through interplanetary space. Computations carried out at the Space Weather Laboratory. 20 April 3, 2008

38. NASA ACE Lagrange 1 observations used as boundary conditions for magnetospheric model. Model output used to drive geomagnetic induction and GIC code providing GIC at individual nodes of the power grid. GIC forecast file is generated. Magnetospheric model used to model the current flow in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. Computations carried out at the Space Weather Laboratory at GSFC. 21 April 3, 2008

39. Coupling to the SUNBURST research support tool % Level 1 GIC forecast produced by REALTIMEGIC_LEVEL1 % % The format of the data is as follows: % 0 0 0 0 0 lat1 lon1 lat2 lon2 . . . % yy mm dd hh mi GIC1low GIC1high GIC2low GIC2high . . . % 0 0 0 0 53.16 -99.29 45.39 -68.53 2006 12 14 14 6 76 15 153 % Level 2 GIC forecast produced by REALTIMEGIC_LEVEL2 % % The format of the data is as follows: % 0 0 0 0 0 0 lat1 lon1 lat2 lon2 . . . % 0 0 0 0 0 0 53.16 -99.29 45.39 -68.53 2008 03 19 11 02 31 -0.11 0.00 0.13 0.00 2008 03 19 11 04 31 0.02 0.00 0.03 0.00 2008 03 19 11 06 31 -0.02 0.00 0.04 0.00 2008 03 19 11 08 31 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 22 Unique and innovative capability

40. Innovative dissemination One-stop shop for state-of-the-art information > 200 SWx Tools Flexible to adapt to changing model (and data) environment User-configurable web-based system for analyzing space weather. Includes the most comprehensive list of SW data products and modeling results iswa.ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov

42. Enable “citizen scientist”