This course is intended as an entry course on Space Weather. It provides an elementary overview over the relevant aspects of space weather without invoking complicated background physics. The course is required for meteorologists and space staff that have high school knowledge of physics and will be providing Space Weather information to military and civilian end users.

 

Starts
Ends
Europe/Brussels
BIRA-IASB
Nicolet
Ringlaan 3, 1180 Brussels, Belgium

 

Trainees

For space weather interpreters/operators and sea riders: they will provide Space Weather information, warn units in case of severe events, answer easy questions and relay difficult questions to the experts.

The qualification level of the trainees: medium level high school with basic mathematics and physics. Most of them have extended working experience in weather forecasting or engineering and have interest in natural and technical sciences. They think from an operational perspective. They have a good working knowledge of English and are familiar with technological and military terminology.

The end level: the trainees understand the basics of Space Weather for operators, know about the potential impact on military and civilian technology and understand the Space Weather products provided by Space Weather institutes. They are able to read and understand the Ursigram (SIDC) and Forecast Discussion (SWPC).

Content

The content focuses on Space Weather and the effects on man-made infrastructure and its functionality. The course is split in 3 parts:

  1. Pre-SWIC with basic concepts of physics: wave, particles, vector, scalar and vector field, .... 
  2. SWIC: solar eruptions of very high-energy matter and e.m. radiation which inject massive amounts of energy in the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere leading to pronounced impact on navigation, communication and energy transport. 
  3. Post-SWIC: how to translate the space weather information into colour maps and products for the end-user. 

For the Pre- and Post-SWIC, contact RNAF and KNMI. 

By the end of the 3-parts course, the students are able to understand space weather products and how these are used to mitigate the potential impact on military and civilian technologies.