Scientists Are One Step Closer to Predicting Solar Storms
A solar flare bursts off the left limb of the sun in this image captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory on June 10, 2014. NASA
By
Frank Konkel
The refrigerator-sized Deep Space Climate Observatory is a joint partnership between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Air Force.
Humanity’s best hope at forecasting solar storms is nearly operational.
Launched in February, the refrigerator-sized Deep Space Climate Observatory, or DSCOVR, has reached its orbit position around the sun at about 1 million miles from the Earth.
The satellite, a joint partnership between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Air Force, is now in the midst of completing instrument checks.
If all is a go, DSCOVR will measure solar wind conditions that allow NOAA to warn of potentially harmful solar activity.
Data from the satellite will be incorporated in NOAA’s new forecast model in 2016, allowing NOAA’s space weather forecasters the ability to predict geomagnetic storm magnitude by region. That’s a capability NASA’s Advanced Composition Explorer -- the aging satellite DSCOVR will eventually replace -- does not possess.
“DSCOVR will trigger early warnings whenever it detects a surge of energy that could cause a geomagnetic storm that could bring possible damaging impacts for Earth,” said Dr. Stephen Volz, assistant administrator for NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service.
Previous research, including a 2008 National Research Council report, suggests “the most extreme” solar storms could cause between $1-2 trillion in damages to power grids, aviation, telecommunications equipment, GPS systems and other infrastructure. If a massive solar storm does occur, DSCOVR would provide a heads-up on potential damage, giving space forecasters some time to warn stakeholders and the populations likely to be affected.