SunEarth Virtual Observatory

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Sun-Earth Virtual Observatory
Aim is to mobilise European e-resources for space
weather and underlying science (Sun-Earth
connections)
Why is this important? At its most benign, space
weather gives us displays of the beautiful aurora
or northern lights. But, at its worst space
weather, is a natural hazard that can
catastrophically disrupt the operations of many
technological systems, thus causing disruption to
people's lives and jobs. Significant European
capability to develop mitigation services,
spin-out to industry
Mike Hapgood, Chair, European Space Weather
Working Team (M.Hapgood_at_rl.ac.uk)
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Sun-Earth Virtual Observatory
Design study including

• .
• European forum to share experience develop
  standards (time representation, metadata)
• Complement US work
• Independent registry

• .
• Identify domains where Europe should develop VOs
• skills data, user needs
• Assess interoperability required
• National Language Support.

Raise awareness of some key issues

• .
• Space weather goes beyond space (and thus beyond
  ESA)
• SpW affects ground systems
• SpW observed from ground

• .
• Time series is central data issue
• Weakly handled in existing VOs
• Need time domain tools
• Links to geosciences, not astronomy

Mike Hapgood, Chair, European Space Weather
Working Team (M.Hapgood_at_rl.ac.uk)