Message from the Director
TWe are now in a big changing point of Space Weather research and operation.
The “Draft final report of the Expert Group on Space Weather: towards improved international coordination for space weather services” (A/AC.105C. 1/L.401) was published from UNCOPUOS in 2022. The first recommendation in this document shows that the three organizations related to space weather, COSPAR, ISES and WMO lead efforts to improve the global coordination of space weather activities. To begin, the three organizations discussed and prepared the “Coimbra Declaration” in September 2022. This discussion still continues for setting the initial pilot project and the round table.
The series of actions will change the space weather framework drastically. We need to consider and discuss which is the best way for operational space weather activities in such big wave. It should be quite a tough way, however, I would like to seek the best direction with all of you.
1. Data sharing:
I think that we are facing a critical phase for data sharing of ground-based observation, e.g., ionosondes, GNSS, magnetometers with mainly political and/or financial issues. Even now we have some difficulties for real time data sharing of geophysical ground-based observations with national security issue. On the other hand, the requirements of data sharing are increasing with scientific and operational communities in domestic and international. It becomes important issue to be solved how we establish seamless data accessibility in the world. I think that one of the final goals of ISES is to establish global warning system for severe space weather events, and data sharing in real time is essential for the system.
2. Radio Environment protection:
As discussed in ITU/WRC-19, the radio frequency protection for space weather observation is one of the big issues. All observers with radio are suffered from artificial noise. In spite of the situation, space weather observation is not assigned as the utility necessary for radio protection. We need to continue communication with radio users about the importance of space weather measurements and benefits not only for science but also for users for keep clear the radio frequency for space weather measurements.
3. Collaboration with private sectors:
I think that we already have frequent communication with private sector as the radio/aviation users. In addition, I think that the private sector increases the role of data providers. For example, the Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) system is establishing significantly in recent years with Low altitude satellites (LEO) by private communication companies. The constellation of huge number of LEO has a huge potential to improve satellite-based measurements of geophysical phenomena. Some private companies already started commercial activities for selling satellite occultation data for estimating ionospheric electron density and water vapor. In addition, the satellite trajectory has information of neutral density which is essential for estimating ionospheric conductivities. These activities will become more popular in future and help to improve scientific research. The number of involving private companies will increase with expanding the utility of space. We need to discuss and establish new framework for collaborating with commercial bodies in near future.
4. Scientific progress:
These expansion of global measurements of the ionosphere/thermosphere will lead scientific progress in this field. The global observation of ionosphere will be able to obtain in real time with high temporal resolution and many of missing information will be found. Some ionospheric studies, e.g, equatorial plasma bubble, sporadic E layer, will have big progress in this new framework which will improve the precision of operational space weather forecast.
I think that ISES has a strong function to communicate with end users comparing with other international bodies related to space weather. I hope to contribute to the social improvement using space systems with providing space weather information.
June 7, 2023
Mamoru Ishii
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Japan
Representative of Regional Warning Center, Japan