Description:

Space weather research and forecasting both depend critically on the availability of a diverse range of measurements spanning from the Sun to the lithosphere of the Earth. This large measurement domain, as well as the diverse types of measurements required -- from polarimetric imaging of the solar magnetic field, energetic particles in the heliosphere and geospace, to magnetic perturbations in the Earth – presents challenges to successful acquisition and integration of observational data into models and forecasting tools. The term “observing system architecture” refers to the full array of platforms, instruments, ground systems, and data systems comprising this complex enterprise. With the upcoming launches of the GOES-U and Space Weather Forward Observatory (SWFO) observing systems, as well as advances in ground-based space weather observing systems such as the proposed upgrade of the National Solar Observatory’s GONG network, this session presents a timely opportunity to review current capabilities, new observations, and persistent gaps in the space weather operational observing capabilities. We invite submissions on upcoming missions, architecture studies, forecaster and end-user requirements, new instruments and mission concepts, commercial ground system concepts, and more.