Foreword
We are pleased to present this Second Edition of the National Space Weather Program Implementation Plan. We published the program's Strategic Plan in 1995 and the first Implementation Plan in 1997. In the intervening period, we have made tremendous progress toward our goals but much work remains to be accomplished to achieve our ultimate goal of providing the space weather observations, forecasts, and warnings needed by our Nation. Over the course of the last two years, and in conjunction with the Space Weather Architecture Study conducted by the National Security Space Architect, the interagency Committee for Space Weather prepared this Plan. It provides a wealth of information on the progress made to date as well as refining guidance for the direction of future activity. We look forward to even greater success in the next three years.
The National Space Weather Program Council members are committed to this program and will work toward its implementation through agency programs. This updated Implementation Plan sets the direction for the research, operations, education, training, and program management to achieve the goals of the National Space Weather Program.
The National Space Weather Program Council
July 7, 2000
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CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE, FOREWORD, TABLE OF CONTENTS, LIST OF FIGURES, LIST OF TABLES (708 K)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (33 K)
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION (49 K)
1.1 History of the Program
1.2 Scope of the Program
1.3 Relevance to the Nation
1.4 Summary of the Strategic Plan
1.5 The Implementation Plan
CHAPTER 2: CAPABILITIES, GOALS, AND STRATEGY (118 K)
2.1 Background
2.2 Current Capabilities
2.2.1 Operational Observations
2.2.2 Operational Models at the Space Environment Center
2.2.3 Operational Models at the 55th Space Weather Squadron
2.3 Assessment of Current Capabilities
2.4 Assessing Capabilities with Metrics
2.4.1 Ionosphere-Thermosphere Metrics
2.4.2 Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Metrics
2.4.3 Solar-Interplanetary Metrics
2.5 Marking Progress with Metrics
2.6 Operational Goals
2.7 What Needs to be Done
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH (146 K)
3.1 Physical Understanding
3.1.1 Background
3.1.2 Advances and Work in Progress
3.2 Research Model Development
3.2.1 Background
3.2.2 Advances and Work in Progress
3.3 Research Observations
3.3.1 Background
3.3.2 Space-Based Research Observing Systems
3.3.3 Ground-Based Research Observing Systems
3.4 Summary
CHAPTER 4: TIMELINES AND NEAR-TERM EMPHASIS (84 K)
4.1 Timelines
4.1.1 Operational Sensors and Models
4.1.2 Research Sensors and Models
4.2 Near-term Emphasis
CHAPTER 5: TECHNOLOGY TRANSITION AND DATA MANAGEMENT (49 K)
5.1 Developing Operational Models
5.1.1 Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC)
5.1.2 Rapid Prototyping Centers (RPCs)
5.1.3 Operationalizing New Models
5.2 Developing Operational Observing Capability
5.3 Data Management
5.3.1 National Space Weather Information System
5.3.2 Data and Information Management Policies and Interaction with Vendors
5.3.3 Archiving and Analyzing Space Weather Data
5.4 Summary
CHAPTER 6: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH (24 K)
6.1 Formal Education
6.2 Informal Education
6.3 Educational Programs for Space Scientists
6.4 Educational Programs for Operations Personnel and Space Weather Customers
CHAPTER 7: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT (75 K)
7.1 Management Structure
7.1.1 National Space Weather Program Council (NSWPC)
7.1.2 Committee for Space Weather (CSW)
7.2 Relationship Between NASA's Living with a Star Program and the NSWP
7.3 National Security Space Architect (NSSA)
7.4 Coordination with the Research Community
7.5 Coordination with the User Community
7.6 Non-Federal Involvement
7.7 Agency Roles and Responsibilities in the National Space Weather Program
7.7.1 Department of Commerce (DOC)
7.7.2 Department of Defense (DOD)
7.7.3 National Science Foundation (NSF)
7.7.4 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
7.7.5 Department of the Interior (DOI)
7.7.6 Department of Energy (DOE)
7.7.7 Department of Transportation (DOT)
7.8 International Space Weather Efforts
7.8.1 International Space Weather Environment Service
7.8.2 ESA Space Weather Program
7.8.3 Space Weather Programs in Other Countries
7.8.4 Coordination of International Space Weather Activities
APPENDIX A - NATIONAL SPACE WEATHER PROGRAM RESEARCH (126 K)
A.1 Physical Understanding
A.1.1 Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)
A.1.2 Solar Activity/Flares
A.1.3 Solar and Galactic Energetic Particles
A.1.4 Solar UV, EUV, and Soft X-Rays
A.1.5 Solar Radio Noise
A.1.6 Solar Wind
A.1.7 Magnetospheric Particles and Fields
A.1.8 Geomagnetic Disturbances
A.1.9 Magnetospheric Radiation Belts
A.1.10 Aurora
A.1.11 Ionospheric Properties
A.1.12 Ionospheric Electric Fields
A.1.13 Ionospheric Disturbances
A.1.14 Ionospheric Scintillations
A.1.15 Neutral Atmosphere (Thermosphere and Mesosphere)
A.2 Model Development
A.2.1 CME Models
A.2.2 Flare Models
A.2.3 Solar UV, EUV, and Soft X-Ray Models
A.2.4 Solar Wind Models
A.2.5 Magnetospheric Particle and Field Models
A.2.6 Geomagnetic Disturbance Models
A.2.7 Radiation Belt Models
A.2.8 Auroral Models
A.2.9 Ionosphere Models
A.2.10 Ionospheric Electric Field Models
A.2.11 Ionospheric Disturbance Models
A.2.12 Ionospheric Scintillation Models
A.2.13 Neutral Atmosphere Models (Thermosphere and Mesosphere)
A.3 Observations
A.3.1 Solar/Solar Wind Observations
A.3.2 Magnetospheric Observations
A.3.3 Ionosphere/Thermosphere Observations
APPENDIX B - NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION - LIVING WITH A STAR (81 K)
B.1 Introduction
B.2 LWS Program Elements
B.2.1 Accelerate Solar Terrestrial Probes
B.2.2 Establish a Space Weather Research Network
B.2.3 Establish Targeted Data Analysis and Modeling
B.2.4 Establish Orbital Technology Testbeds
B.2.5 Establish and Expand Partnerships
B.3 The Space Weather Research Network
B.3.1 A Global View of the Sun
B.3.2 Transit of the Solar Wind
B.3.3 The Global Properties of Geospace
B.4 A Coordinated Approach
APPENDIX C - NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE ARCHITECT SPACE WEATHER ARCHITECTURE (43 K)
C.1 Introduction
C.2 Key Study Findings and Recommendations
C.2.1 Space Weather Architecture Vector
C.2.2 Space Weather Importance Awareness
C.2.3 Space Weather Requirements
C.2.4 Coordinated Space Weather Architecture Acquisition
C.2.5 Space Weather Information Archive
C.2.6 Integrated User Information
C.2.7 Integrated Space Weather Center
C.2.8 Space Weather Research and Development
C.2.9 Space Weather and Man-Made Effects Information Coordination
APPENDIX D - INFORMATION SOURCES AND POINTS OF CONTACT FOR NATIONAL SPACE WEATHER PROGRAM (11 K)
APPENDIX E - ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS (15 K)
CONTRIBUTORS (123 K)
Link to The National Space Weather Program Strategic Plan, August 1995 (FCM-P30-1995).
Link to The National Space Weather Program Implementation Plan, January 1997 (FCM-P31-1997).