Space Science Activities at NRL

Presentation to the National Space Weather Assessment Committee

Herbert Gursky

Superintendent, Space Science Division

Naval Research Laboratory

15 September 2005 Herbert Gursky

15 September 2005

Environmental Science Activities at NRL

Codes 7300, 7500: Weather and Ocean models and products (Stennis, Monterrey)

Code 7200: Earth and ocean remote sensing for DoD and civilian activities

Code 7600: Atmospheric, solar and astronomical research

Herbert Gursky

15 September 2005

The LASCO coronagraphs, developed by an NRL led consortium on the NASA-ESA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, have been returning images of the sun’s atmosphere since its launch in December 1995.

The NASA-ESA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory

Herbert Gursky

15 September 2005

Herbert Gursky

15 September 2005

Coronagraph/CMESolar-Geophysical Forecasting

Summary Comments (1)• Coronagraph images show when a CME has occurred and

whether it is directed along the Sun-Earth line.– Solar disk activity sensors (e.g. GOES SXI, GOES XRS, or

ISOON H) are used to distinguish CMEs directed towards Earth from those directed away from Earth.

– Disk sensors alone cannot definitively show whether a CME has occurred and cannot determine the boundaries of a CME.

• SOHO/LASCO coronagraphs have detected all significant geoeffective CMEs to date during solar cycle 23.

A coronagraph can detect CMEs close to the Sun and, coupled with a solar disk sensor, can determine whether a CME is directed towards Earth.

NRL Breakout Model for CMEs

•Magnetic reconnection removes overlying field, destroying force balance and producing explosive expansion

•Model produces fast eruption with interplanetary shock

•Model now being used extensively by outside community to interpret observations, including both CMEs, solar flares and prominence eruptions.

Magnetic Reconnection Driven by Field Line Shear

Herbert Gursky

15 September 2005

UPCOMING MISSIONS

STEREO: Instruments include 3 different coronographs and an EUV imager on two independent space-craft that will view the Sun from two vantage points. Launch September 2006

EIS: A high resolution spectrometer to study the sun. To be flown as part of the Japanese Solar-B mission. Launch September 2006

CDATE: A joint NRL-AFRL submission to DoD’s Space Test Program comprising a traditional coronagraph (10 solar radii) and a heliospheric imager (90 degrees). Intended as a step toward an operational coronagraph. Not manifested

SCOR: A traditional coronagraph (15 solar radii) in the formulation phase for GOES-R. A combined traditional and wide-angle coronagraph is also being considered. Launch 2012, if selected.

Herbert Gursky

15 September 2005

CommentsThere should be substantial progress in predicting geomagnetic conditions at the Earth in the next several years.

NOAA should be encouraged to adopt a coronagraph for GOES-R. Even so there could be a gap in coronagraph imagery between the late 2000s and 2012.

NRL is not unique. Many research institutes and universities can provide high quality service to NOAA and NPOESS, including development of instruments and software, in orbit calibration and assessment.

Herbert Gursky

15 September 2005

Questions ?

Herbert Gursky

15 September 2005

The Emergence of the EIS InstrumentHigh Resolution Spectroscopy from space had its origin with Richard Tousey’s investigations of the Sun with V2 rockets in the 1940s and with Tousey’s and Herbert Friedman’s satellite experiments of the 60’s.

More Recent History

The 70s The 80s The 90s

George Doschek and Uri Feldman develop Bragg Spectrometer for P78-1

Dewitt Purcell develops spectrometers for SkyLab Instruments

George Doschek and Uri Feldman develop Bragg Spectrometer for Japanese Solar-A mission

Gunther Brueckner develops the HRTS spectrometer

John Seely develops multilayer technology for mirrors and gratings

Charlie Brown and Clarence Korendyke develop high quality instruments for solar and other studies.

Mike Kowalski develops high resolution gratings for JPEX