Contact Information:

Dr. Howard J. Singer, ChiefResearch and Development DivisionNOAA Space Environment Center325 BroadwayBoulder, CO 80305

303-497-6959303-497-5388howard.singer@noaa.gov

GOES Space Environment Monitor (SEM)

• NOAA Space Environment Center (SEC)• Current GOES SEM Instruments and Societal Benefits• GOES-R+ SEM Instrument Baseline and Improvements• Trade Studies and User Input

GOES Users’ ConferenceBoulder, CO May 22, 2001

H. J. Singer, NOAA Space Envrionment Center

SEC Mission StatementThe Space Environment Center is the Nation’s official source of space weather

alerts and warnings. The Center continually monitors and forecasts Earth’s space environment; provides accurate, reliable, and useful solar terrestrial information; and leads programs to improve services.

To serve the Nation and reduce the adverse effects of space weather disturbances on human activities:

• SEC synthesizes and disseminates information about past, present, and future conditions in the space environment for space weather users and private industry vendors; we prepare the data we acquire for the national archive.

• SEC leads in development and implementation of programs in solar-terrestrial physics and space environment services by conducting research and developing techniques that improve monitoring and forecasting.

• SEC uses its expertise to advise and educated those who operate systems affected by disturbances in the space environment and those who have general interest in our science.

GOES Observations are a Key Component of SEC Mission

Space Weather Operations Forecast Center

• Nation’s official source of Space Weather alerts, warnings, and forecasts

• Synthesis of space environment data and information

• Works together with Research and Development to bring new understanding, models, and data into operations

GOES Observations Critical to Space Weather Operations

NOAA Space Weather Scale Summary

Extreme

Severe

Strong

Moderate

Minor

  Geomagnetic Storms

Solar RadiationStorms

Radio Blackouts

  High Radiation

Hazard

 

Power Grid Instability

   

    HF Blackout

for an Hour 

 

Infrequent SEU 

Minor Impact on Satellites

   

Measures: Kp Geomagnetic GOES >10 MeV p GOES X-Rays Index

GOES Space Environment Monitor

Measurements of energetic particles, magnetic field, solar x-rays, and solar EUV provide data of practical benefit to commercial and

government activities and for extensive basic research.

NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)Instrumentation for SEC

Satellites: GOES 8 (Launch: 4/13/94, Operational) GOES 9 (Launch: 5/23/95, On-orbit storage)

(Launch: 4/25/97, Operational) GOES 11 (Launch 5/13/00, On-orbit storage)

GOES M (Launch planned July 01) GOES NO/PQ (HSC in production, launch start 03)

GOES 10

Space Environment Monitor (SEM)

Energetic Particle Sensor (EPS) Monitors the energetic electron, proton, and alpha particle fluxes e: 0.03-4.0 MeV, p: 0.08-700 MeV, a: 4-3400 MeV

Magnetometer (MAG) Monitors the vector magnetic field 0.512 second samples, ~0.1 nT sensitivity, +/- 1000 nT

X-Ray & Extreme UltraViolet Sensors (XRS/EUV) Monitors whole-Sun x-ray brightness in two bands 1 - 8 Angstroms and 0.5 - 4 Angstroms 5 EUV Bands

GOES Energetic Particle Sensor:Mitigation of International Space Station Radiation Risks

Space Radiation Analysis GroupNASA Johnson Space CenterMichael J. Golightly

GOES Measurements of Radiation to Astronauts:

Radiation Belt Enhancements: electrons: > 500 keV

Solar Energetic Protons: protons: > 10 MeV

Heavy Ion Measurements Needed:

C-N-O and Iron

“Highest priority space weather need for NASA SRAG is a “Healthy” NOAA SEC…”

M. Golightly, NASA/SRAG

YOHKOH

GOES Magnetometer Monitors Solar Wind Shock Impact and Magnetopause Crossings at Geosynchronous Orbit

Magnetopause CrossingsShock

Geosynchronous Assets

Magnetopause crossingsinterfere with satellite operations.

As of a May 2000 report, 138 insured satellites in geosynchronous orbit valued at $20.1 B. “Space weather suggested as cause or contributor to over $500 M in insurance claims in past 4 years. “ U.S. Aviation Underwriters, Inc

movie

GOES 8 During July 2000 Geomagnetic Storm

Model movie illustrating extreme changes in magnetic field and plasma environment at geosynchronous.

XRS Products and User NeedsStatus: • XRS provides the primary standard for solar flare magnitude• Real-time XRS data provides the first indications of solar flare activity• Prediction of probability of energetic proton event• Estimation of region and severity of short-wave radio fade• Used by both NOAA/SEC and the Air Force 55th Weather Squadron• Forecast Alerts and Warnings are sent out based on the initial XRS measurements of a flare.

- Alerts and Warnings are sent when XRS sees flux of >M5.0 and >X1.0

Solar Proton Prediction Product:http://sec.noaa.gov/~sgreer/gprot/index.html

HF Absorption Product:http://sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/dregion.html

Extreme UltraViolet Sensor (EUV)

Recent Improvement (GOES NOPQ)- Include five EUV channels

Enhanced Services- Improved orbit prediction for low-earth orbit- Improved ionospheric parameterization for navigation and communication- Better predictions of ionospheric and thermospheric conditions

USA

Japa

n

ESA

Ionosphere

L1 L2

GPS Receiver

GPS

Hub

ble

Thermospheric Density variations cause orbit instabilities or even re-entry

Ionospheric variations cause navigation errors in GPS

1995 2000 2005

Alt

itu

de

(n

au

tic

al

mil

es

)

Year

200

260

320

Predicted Hubble Altitude

G. Withbroe, NASA

GOES R+ SEM Instrument Proposed Improvements

Measurement Specifications Products

Magnetospheric Energetic Particles (EPEAD, MAGPD, MAGED)

Protons: 30* keV (was 80 KeV) to 0.8 MeV (*spec was in initial GOES NO/PQ requirement)

• Improved specification of medium energy radiation environment responsible for spacecraft charging

Earth’s Magnetic Field (MAG)

No Changes

Soft x-ray emissions from the integrated solar disk (XRS)

Dynamic Range 200,000 (was 100,000)

• Improved quality covering full solar dynamic range

Extreme ultraviolet emissions from the integrated solar disk(EUVS)

Eight EUV bands between 5 and 120 nm (was 5 bands)

• Improved height resolution in calculations of thermospheric heating rates and ionization rates; critical components in the modeling of the ionosphere and thermosphere

GOES Space Environment Monitor measurements provide crucial data to our nation and the world for commercial and government applications and for basic research

NOAA services must expand to meet the needs of our nation’s increasing use of and reliance on the space environment

Baseline requirements and proposed enhancements have been defined

Plans are underway for additional trade studies and User / Instrument-provider / Partnership workshops that are needed to determine the highest priority needs and implementation strategy

Summary