{"id":2936283,"date":"2023-10-14T17:52:39","date_gmt":"2023-10-14T21:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-1016567-4521551.cloudwaysapps.com\/plato-data\/in-wake-of-eclipse-noaa-prepares-for-enhanced-solar-observations\/"},"modified":"2023-10-14T17:52:39","modified_gmt":"2023-10-14T21:52:39","slug":"in-wake-of-eclipse-noaa-prepares-for-enhanced-solar-observations","status":"publish","type":"station","link":"https:\/\/platodata.io\/plato-data\/in-wake-of-eclipse-noaa-prepares-for-enhanced-solar-observations\/","title":{"rendered":"In wake of eclipse, NOAA prepares for enhanced solar observations"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SAN FRANCISCO \u2013 As the annular solar eclipse drew widespread public attention, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration leaders gathered at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta were considering their own solar observations.<\/p>\n

\u201cUltimately, as NASA and NOAA work with European partners to build out a system that is capable of observing the sun from different perspectives, we\u2019ll improve our models and ultimately improve our forecasts of solar activity and the impacts here on Earth,\u201d Michael Morgan, assistant secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, told SpaceNews. <\/em><\/p>\n

For the moment, NOAA\u2019s primary instrument for observing the sun is well past its prime. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat might keep me awake at night would be losing the existing coronagraph,\u201d said Bill Murtagh, program coordinator for NOAA\u2019s Space Weather Prediction Center. The LASCO coronagraph on the European Space Agency-NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory launched in 1995 remains \u201cvital for our prediction capability,\u201d Murtagh said.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, replacements are on the way. <\/p>\n

Compact Coronagraphs<\/h4>\n

First up is the Compact Coronagraph, one of the instruments on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R series GOES-U satellite scheduled to launch in April on a Falcon Heavy rocket. The Compact Coronagraph will observe the sun\u2019s outer atmosphere and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).<\/p>\n

A second Compact Coronagraph will fly on NOAA\u2019s Space Weather Follow-On satellite. The SWFO-L1 satellite will travel to sun-Earth Lagrange Point L-1 on NASA\u2019s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe in 2025. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe upgraded capability and resilience\u201d will improve measurements of solar activity, said Elsayed Talaat, director of NOAA\u2019s Office of Space Weather Observations.<\/p>\n

Both coronagraphs are sorely needed for space weather warnings, Murtagh added. \u201cI cannot build a warning system that relies on a single system. We want redundancy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sharing Observations<\/h4>\n

A partnership with the European Space Agency will provide additional observations of solar flares and CMEs for NOAA models and forecasts. <\/p>\n

Solar activity presents \u201ca global threat that requires a global response,\u201d Murtagh. \u201cThe U.S. can\u2019t go it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

ESA\u2019s Vigil mission, formerly called Lagrange, is expected begin its journey to Lagrange Point 5 in 2029. Vigil observations taken 60 degrees off the sun-Earth line will complement measurements from SWFO L-1.<\/p>\n

\u201cCombined, they will give us that multidimensional perspective. We\u2019ll know if and when CMEs will hit the Earth,\u201d Murtagh said. \u201cThis is a vital input into the models.\u201d<\/p>\n

Solar Maximum<\/h4>\n

Solar activity affects satellites and terrestrial infrastructure like the power grid. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re evolving technology at an extraordinary pace,\u201d Murtagh said. \u201cWhen we introduce new systems, new technologies, new processes, we often introduce new vulnerabilities to space weather that we don\u2019t fully understand until unfortunate things happen\u201d like the loss of 40 SpaceX Starlink satellites<\/a> in February 2022 after \u201ca relatively minor geomagnetic storm.\u201d<\/p>\n

The current 11-year solar cycle, expected to peak in 2025. <\/p>\n

\u201cHaving more reliable space weather information will help,\u201d Talaat said. \u201cStatistically, we see the biggest storms on the downslope of solar maximum.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regarding the current solar cycle, it could be worse. When measured by sunspots, solar activity has been ramping up \u201cfaster and stronger\u201d than expected, Murtagh said. \u201cBut we haven\u2019t had any high-level storms hitting Earth. There\u2019s been a lot of them just missing us. We\u2019ve seen some great eruptions that have not been Earth-directed.\u201d<\/p>\n