Research and Development Division

 

Research and Development at the Space Environment Center emphasizes understanding of the fundamental physical processes governing the regime from the solar surface, through the interplanetary medium, into the magnetospheric-ionospheric regions, and ending in Earth's upper atmosphere. These processes are manifest in the climatology and disturbances of Earth's magnetic field, the ionosphere, the charged particle populations at satellite orbits, and the atmospheric density at high altitudes (including low-Earth orbit). Our research is focussed on areas where advanced applications can be developed and prototyped to improve space weather services, whereby the Nation is served through alerts and warnings of those conditions that can be often hazardous to technological systems in space and on the ground and human activities in space.

The Research and Development division is organized into three groups:


 

Research and Development Division
Howard Singer, Chief
 
Solar Terrestrial Models and Theory Group

Terry Onsager
Group Leader

  Solar Terrestrial Instrumentation and Data Group

Rodney Viereck
Group Leader

Solar Influences and
Imaging Group

Howard Singer
Acting Group Leader


 

Solar Terrestrial Models and Theory Group

Devoted to research of Earth's space environment and the application of this research to space weather operations. The staff has expertise spanning from solar physics to Earth's upper atmosphere, and maintains close collaborations throughout the research community. They publish regularly in scientific journals, and work directly with the SEC Space Weather Operations and the Systems Division to develop state-of-the-art capabilities for the NOAA/SEC forecast center.

Recent results of members of the Solar Terrestrial Models and Theory Group follow:

TEC Climatology from TOPEX/POSEIDON Measurements
Medium Energy Particle Precipation
 

Solar Terrestrial Instrumentation and Data Group
Ensures that space environment data are processed, validated, interpreted, and disseminated in an efficient and timely fashion. The group develops analysis tools for working with data from a variety of spacecraft, including the NOAA geosynchronous and polar orbiters, and spacecraft in the solar wind. Data access is provided through customized data-analysis routines and individualized displays. In addition to enhancing the utility and value of the primary data through research and analysis, the group explores sources of new data and improved monitoring to support Space Weather Operations. Solar Influences and Imaging Group
Conducts research into understanding processes on the sun and the effects of solar activity on the near-Earth space environment. The group leads in the development of techniques to process and interpret both ground-based and space-based solar imagery, and has special expertise in solar X-ray imaging. To support Space Weather Operations, the staff examines both short and long-term solar influences on human activities in space and on the ground.

Solar Cycle 23 Project and September 1997 Summary of Panel Findings

Areas of Particular Interest

Rapid Prototyping Center-A unique facility dedicated to moving space environment models from a research-development mode to an operational mode.
 
Satellites - Developing space monitoring instrument specifications, receiving and validating data from these instruments, analyzing and presenting data, and archiving data in the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) are all aspects with which the R&D Division is involved. The Space Environment Monitor (SEM) instruments on the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) and the Polar Operational Environment Satellite (POES) are among our major responsibilities. The SEM instruments on POES include energetic particle monitors and SBUV. The SEM instruments on GOES include magnetometers, energetic particle monitors, and solar x-ray intensity measurements. Future GOES will add measurements of the extreme ultraviolet (EUV), a Solar X-ray Imager, and a broader range of energies of energetic particles. In addition, we cooperate with other agency satellite missions to provide real-time space weather information. These include the NASA missions: WIND, ACE, and IMAGE.
 

Cooperative Science Programs
SEC scientists are actively involved in the wider scientific community, both in terms of scientific collaborations on research and of professional organizational volunteer work. All of the following links leave the SEC web site.

SOLCOORD - Current Solar Data and Worldwide Observing Plans
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)
NASA's International Solar-Terrestrial Physics Program
NCAR High Altitude Observatory

SHINE: Solar, Heliospheric, and INterplanetary Environment
Solar Stereo Mission
IMAGE: Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration
IAGA: The International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy
The Community Coordinated Modeling Center at Goddard Space Flight Center
National Research Council Associate Programs

Publications -- SEC staff publishes on technical and scientific topics in many refereed journals and government publications.

For more information about the Research and Development Division, contact Howard Singer (Howard.Singer@noaa.gov), (303) 497-6959

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