United Nations/Germany Workshop
This month, members of the Systems Analysis and Evolution Department took part in the ‘United Nations/Germany Workshop on the International Space Weather Initiative: Preparing for the Solar Maximum’. This was organised by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), sponsored by the International Committee for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) and the International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI) and supported by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
Our colleagues from the Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics welcomed us to the city of Neustrelitz to discuss the latest developments in space weather-related scientific research and operations with global experts as we enter the most active phase of our solar cycle. Over five days, we were treated to excellent presentations covering the full spectrum of the Sun-Earth environment, from the latest modelling of coronal mass ejection (CME) propagation to the effects of solar weather on the Earth's atmosphere.
But what does this have to do with positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), you may ask?
PNT services provided by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as the European Galileo are essential to our daily lives. They range from positioning solutions for your daily commute to work to time information for critical infrastructure such as power grids or smooth train operations. Solar weather has a direct impact on PNT performance which, if not properly understood and managed, can have a significant socio-economic cost on Earth. In collaboration with the space weather community, we are developing and applying models to mitigate the impact of frequent and severe ionospheric dynamics, thereby improving service and reducing risk.
Special thanks go to the representatives of the space weather community for the warm welcome and the many exciting discussions. We look forward to continuing to work together in the future.
