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Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville University Millersville, PA

Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

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Page 1: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University

Richard D. ClarkDepartment of Earth Sciences

Millersville UniversityMillersville, PA

Page 2: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

“There is beauty in space, and it is orderly. There is no weather,

and there is regularity. It is predictable…Everything in space obeys the laws of physics. If you know these laws and obey them,

space will treat you kindly.”

- Wernher von Braun

There is beauty in space, and its order and regularly has

seeded our understanding of the laws of physics, which we

employ to learn, describe, and predict.

But it is also catastrophic and we are the beneficiaries of

many catastrophes. If we are to progress as a space

venturing, technological society, we must understand

and predict these catastrophes.

- von Braun admirer

Page 3: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

Why the interest in Space Weather? At the level of undergraduate education

There is deep and expanding interest in the emerging field of space weather because of the influence radio blackouts, solar radiation storms, geomagnetic storms have on satellites, communications, power grids and pipelines.

The National Space Weather Program began in 1994 in response to community efforts to highlight the strategic nature of space science research with the aim of addressing increasing needs to specify (observe) and predict conditions in space.

The field is new, inherently interdisciplinary, and ripe with opportunity, where individuals can make significant contributions to science and society. The American Meteorological Society began sponsoring an international conference on Space Weather 4 years ago as venue for dissemination of research activities. Recent policy statement on SW.

Page 4: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

DRAFT AMS Policy Statement on Space Weather

Summary StatementThe American Meteorological Society (AMS) recognizes the importance of space weather research and services, and the need to develop advanced forecasting and mitigation techniques. Because of our increasing reliance on technologies susceptible to space weather and the demonstrated importance of space weather to society, the AMS strongly endorses activities and investments that further our understanding of this cross-disciplinary science and its practical applications.

RecommendationUniversities should broaden their meteorology curricula to include space weather and its effects.

Page 5: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

Rationale for Undergraduate Course in SW

1) expose students to the origins of space weather, properties/characteristics of the Sun, heliosphere, magnetosphere, ionosphere, and upper atmosphere, solar-terrestrial connections, and current state of observations and forecasts,

2) provide students with the conceptual, visual, observational, mathematical, and physical framework for understanding the space environment, predicting space weather, informing SW policy.

Page 6: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

vD = (F x B)/qB2 Drift Velocity – perpendicular to B

Gravity Field F = m g

vD = (mg x B)/qB2

I

Page 7: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

ESCI 440: Space Weather and Environment

• Credits/Contact hours: 3/3

• Course Type: Elective for Meteorology and Physics Majors

• Catalog Description: In-depth study of the space environment between Earth and Sun; solar-terrestrial interactions; physics of the Sun and space weather; observations, modeling, and prediction of space weather events; effects on life, property, and infrastructure.

• Co-requisite: MATH 365; Pre-requisites: ESCI 342, and either ESCI 340 or PHYS 233; or permission of the instructor

• Text: Space Weather: the physics behind the slogan by •

K. Scherer (Editor), H. Fichtner (Editor), B. Heber (Editor), U Mall (Editor)

Page 9: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

Comprehensive Outline of Course Content1. Introduction to Space Weather and the Solar-Terrestrial Environment2. Living with a Star3. The Physics of Space Weather4. The Solar Interaction with the Interplanetary Medium5. The Earth’s Magnetosphere6. The Earth’s Ionosphere/Thermosphere7. Space Weather Observation, Modeling and Prediction8. Space Weather Effects on Life, Property and Infrastructure

a) What is Space Weather?b) Origins of Space Weatherc) A retrospective of the U.S. National Space Weather Programd) Overview of space weather effects on technologiese) Space weather forecasting: A grand challengef) Space weather: Lessons from the meteorologists

a) ZAMS-to-present: Solar Evolution and the H-R diagramb) Structure of the Solar Interiorc) Energy Release: P-P Cycle; Random Walk; Convectiond) The Solar Atmospheree) In situ Observations of the Sun in H; Observations at other Wavelengthsf) Solar Cyclesg) Solar Radiation Storms and Geomagnetic Storms

a) Electric and Magnetic Fieldsb) Electromagnetic Theoryc) Charged Particle Motions

i) magnetic force on a charged particleii) motion in a uniform magnetic fieldiii) gyrofrequency and helical motioniv) total force on a particle (Lorentz force)

v) particle drifts and collisionsvi) magnitude of the magnetic momentvii) particle trajectoriesviii) magnetic mirroringix) the loss conex) adiabatic invariants (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

d) Magnetic Forcei) magnetic force densityii) magnetic tension and pressure gradient forcesiii) magnetic force balanceiv) plasma momentum balancev) equilibrium currents

e) Frozen-Field Theoremi) magnetic flux tubesii) Ohm’s Law for a magnetized plasmaiii) current sheets

f) Static/Neutral Atmospheresi) the fluid elementii) pressure gradient forceiii) tenuous gasesiv) gas pressure and temperaturev) force balance and scale height and differences

a) Heliosphereb) Solar Windc) Solar Activity: Flares, Prominences, Sunspots; Spicules, Plages, etc.d) Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs), Coronal Holes, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)

a) The Shape of the Magnetosphereb) Regions of the Magnetospherec) Van Allen Radiation Beltsd) Magnetospheric Wavese) The Dynamic Magnetospheref) Terrestrial Effects of Magnetic Storms

a) Ionospheric/Thermospheric Layersb) Ionospheric Densities, Conductivities, Temperatures, Currentsc) Ionospheric Convection – Harang Discontinuityd) Aurorae) Ionosphere/Thermosphere Modeling

a) Real-time Space Weather Data Sourcesi) In-situ data: SuomiNet - Total Ionospheric Electron Densityii) Ground-based Observationsiii) Space/Satellite-based observations

b) Space Weather Modeling and Predictioni) Overview of model characteristicsii) Magnetosphere Modelingiii) NCAR Community-based thermospheric-ionospheric global modelsiv) NASA space weather models

c) Running Space Weather Models in Real-Timei) Prediction and Diagnosis of Space Weather Events using Models

a) Space Weather Eventsi) Radio Blackoutsii) Solar Radiation Stormsiii) Geomagnetic Storms

b) Space Weather Effectsi) Effects on Communication Systemsii) Satellite Systems Failuresiii) Ground-Based Electric Power Gridsiv) Induced Currents in Long Conductors: Effects on Pipelinesv) Effects on Geomagnetic Surveysvi) Effects on Navigation Systemsvii) Hazards to Humans in Space

Page 10: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

Course Resources

COMET© Modules1. Space Weather Welcome2. Space Weather Basics

3. In-Depth Physics Lessons4. Physics of the Aurora: Earth Systems

Page 11: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

• USAF Manual: Handbook of Geophysics and Space Environment

• SWPC Web Site• HAO Web Site

– Web Casts and Access Grid• National Ground-based Solar Observatories

• Space-based Observing Platforms– Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)– Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory

(STEREO)

Course Resources

Page 12: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

Millersville University SA05 SuomiNet Site

Page 13: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

Course Resources

HObservations using the Coronado© Solar Max 40

Page 14: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

Space Weather Data and Productshttp://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

• Alerts and Forecasts• SWPC Reports and Summaries• Space Weather Models

– D-region Absorption Prediction – STORM Time Empirical Ionospheric Correction Model– US Total Electron Content Map - USTEC– Costello Geomagnetic Activity Index--Pred. Kp– The Wang Sheeley Model– Relativistic Electron Forecast Model

• Solar and Geomagnetic Indices• Instrument Measurements

Page 15: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

Seminars• Live video/audio broadcasts from HAO via Access Grid in

2006-07 – cost prohibitive w/o organizational commitment• Future Streaming media options– Web Conferencing (2-way audio plus presentation on

PC)– Webcasting (1-way, no interaction, no real-time)– Access Grid (2 way, real-time, resource issues)

• Access important – being discussed by NCAR Web Advisory Group Subcommittee on Next Generation of Streaming Media

Page 16: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

Course Improvements

• More time devoted to describing the impact of space weather on life, property, and infrastructure

• Elucidate relationships between space weather and natural climate forcing

• Greater use of models, and offer students the ability to run models

• Greater integration of the use of MatLab for class assignments

• An active Sun

Page 17: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

Future plans for Space Weather at MU

• More seminars (guest speakers and streaming)

• Run our own models on an enhanced cluster• Engage students in SW research• Seek internships/collaboration for students

interested in SW• Design and construct a solar observatory in

our new building

Page 18: Space Weather and Environment: A capstone for meteorology students at Millersville University Richard D. Clark Department of Earth Sciences Millersville

[email protected]

Also, see poster presented by the eight Also, see poster presented by the eight students in SW&E for their take on this students in SW&E for their take on this coursecourse