Forecasting Space Weather

Space weather refers to conditions on the Sun and in the space environment that can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems, and can endanger human life or health. Space weather takes the form of episodic mass ejections from the Sun, sporadic bursts of energetic particles and photons associated with solar flares, and intermittent high speed streams of magnetized solar wind plasma that buffet the Earth's magnetosphere and induce geomagnetic storms and beautiful aurorae. Our rapidly evolving high-tech global economy has become increasingly vulnerable to the disruptive impacts of space weather on satellite telecommunications, GPS-based navigation and timing, transpolar commercial aviation, and the human exploration and commercial utilization of space. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center is the Nation's official source for space weather alerts, watches and warnings. It operates 24x7, and is designated a National Critical System by the US Department of Homeland Security.