Speaker
Description
Space weather events, such as solar flares and geomagnetic storms, pose significant risks to technological systems, including power grids, satellite operations, aviation, and navigation systems. In South Africa, the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) serves as a central station for monitoring and disseminating space weather information, including warnings and alerts. However, the effectiveness of this information depends on SANSA’s reach and accessibility to relevant end-users. This study assesses South Africa's capacity to deliver timely and actionable space weather warnings/alerts to critical sectors and the general public. Through analysis of SANSA's outreach strategies, communication infrastructure, and stakeholder engagement efforts, the findings suggest that while significant progress has been made, especially within the aviation and power utility sectors, there remain gaps in awareness and access among smaller industries, local municipalities, and the broader public. Survey data collection indicated that about 90% of the stakeholders from different sectors do not know and have never seen space weather warnings from SANSA’s communication platforms. Enhancing collaboration with different sectors, investing in public education, and expanding communication channels are essential in ensuring broader national resilience to space weather impacts.
| Do you plan to attend in-person or online? | In-person |
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