Space Weather in CMA

1. Space Weather in CMA Xiaonong Shen Deputy Administrator China Meteorological Administration 17 May 2011 WMO Cg-XVI Side Event Global Preparedness for Space Weather Hazards

2. Outline • Space weather and its impacts • Space weather monitoring and forecasting • Global cooperation on space weather • Summary

3. Space Weather and its Impacts • Space weatherrefers to the short-term variations in space environment that affect space- or ground-based technological system, and in the worse case, endanger human. • Intensive space weather storm could pose a wide range of hazards to human activities. • Solar flares may disturb the ionosphere, resulting in degraded communication and navigation quality • Solar energetic particles could damage the equipment of spacecraft • Solar radiation effects on human being, effecting all cells, and breaking DNA • Geomagnetic storms can generate GIC in power grids, and disturb spacecraft magnetic attitude control • Themospheric disturbances may change the orbit, attitude and life of spacecraft

4. Space Weather Monitoring and Forecasting • It is acknowledged in that space weather impacts humna activities and, similar to the weather and climate, a monitoring and forecasting operation system of space weather is needed to guarantee the further development of our society. Missions of NCSW are: • To develop the ground- and space-based space weather observation system; • To provide monitoring and forecasting products and services for space weather users; • To steer development of the space weather and relevant disciplines; • To participate international cooperation on space weather hazards warning and mitigation. • In 2002, CMA was authorized by the National Council to establish the National Center for Space Weather (NCSW), assigned to the National Satellite Meteorology Center.

5. Space Weather Monitoring and Forecasting • The ground-based space weather monitoring network has been expanding in China. • About 20 stations are used to monitor the solar activities, ionospheric and upper atmospheric disturbances. • More than 500 GPS/MET stations in CMA are available for routine TEC map product.

6. UV Light Space Weather Monitoring and Forecasting • The GOS satellites has become the ideal platform for space weather observations. • Polar orbit satellites could globally monitor impacts of energetic particles, such as, FY-3A/B, and POES, Metop. FY-3 follow-ons will have aurora and ionosphere capabilities. • Geostationary orbit satellites could monitor real-time solar activities and in-situ energetic particles and geomagnetic fields., such as, FY-2 and GOES series(-OP) etc. FY-4 series and GOES-R/S will increase and provide the solar imaging and/or geomagnetic field observations Courtesy to Barb & Jerome

7. Space Weather Monitoring and Forecasting The GOS satellites are unique and crucial, and the mission satellites also provide important observations for space weather. • ACE/NASA monitors upstream solar wind conditions and Interplanetary magnetic field etc. for space weather community • SOHO and STEREO/NASA provide the imagery of solar activities for space weather forecast and research • NOAA will launch DSCOVR to replace ACE and launch COSMIC-2 series • CMA is one of the major promoters and participants of the “KuaFu” project Courtesy to NASA

8. Public Awareness and Education • It is our mandatory to increase public awareness and education. • CMA currently delivers daily, monthly, and annual monitoring and forecasting products and services to users through hard-copy bulletins, internet, phone, SMS, e-mail, public media, etc. • CMA also provides special services for important customers, including Shenzhou, ChangE, Beidou missions and State Grid, etc.

9. Space Weather Monitoring and Forecasting • In CMA, the application-oriented research and technology development related to space weather provide significant support to operations. 24th Solar Cycle Prediction Space debris Alerting System SAA warning System

10. Global Cooperation on Space Weather • Human activities are extending into space and becoming vulnerable to space weather hazards; • Space weather impacts are both regional and global, Sharing monitoring recourses and forecasting products and services; • Comprehensive international cooperation is necessary for the mitigation of the societal and economic impact of severe space weather event. As the 24th solar maximum is approaching, we all need to make a good preparedness together for possible space weather hazards!

11. Summary • The potential loss due to space weather hazards could be mitigated by the reliable monitoring, forecasting and service system; • Space weather spans national boundaries, and needs the effective international cooperation; • As the natural extension of meteorology, space weather could be and should be the integral component of “weather”; • CMA will continue to fully support the space weather activities of WMO.