[IGSMAIL-5334]: Future of Real Time Solar Wind Data

[Joe Kunches]

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IGS Electronic Mail      06 Apr 08:08:00 PDT 2006      Message Number 5334
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Author:  Joseph Kunches

LOSS OF IMPORTANT SEC SERVICE

On April 3, 2006, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA)issued a press release announcing a call for public comment on the
value of continuing real-time solar wind data, and products derived from
such data, provided by the Space Environment Center.  This is your
opportunity to comment on the value of this service.  The comment period
starts on April 3 and continues for 45 days through May 18.  Public
comments will be incorporated into future plans to best meet the needs
of the users.

If you wish more background information, go to the special National
Weather Service (NWS) web site http://www.weather.gov/os/space/

If you wish to express your opinion on this directly, send an email to
solar.wind.comments at noaa.gov

Please redistribute this notice to other customers you may know who are
also potentially affected.  This is a one-time opportunity to provide
your input on this matter.

Brief Background:
Currently there is no plan to replace NASA's Advanced Composition
Explorer (ACE) satellite when it or the monitoring instruments
ultimately fail.  ACE is now the only source of real-time solar wind data.

During the next 6 weeks, you can let the NWS know of the importance of
solar wind data and products.  You may wish to comment on:
--  The value of real-time solar wind data and the products that use it
    (alerts, warnings, forecasts, models)
--  The economic consequences to your business, or negative impact on your
    activities, if real-time solar wind data are unavailable
--  The need for follow-on solar wind monitoring once ACE fails
--  The value of solar wind data to researchers, model developers, and
model validators, for the development of knowledge and
    products to support current and future space weather activities

Please send an email to solar.wind.comments at noaa.gov or contact:

NWS Contacts:  Beth McNulty or Dorothy Haldeman

Mail:
National Weather Service
Office of Climate, Water and Weather Services
Aviation Services Branch
1325 East-West Highway, SSMC2
Silver Spring, MD  20910

Phone:  301-713-1726 x116 or 301-713-1726 x130

-- 
Joseph M. Kunches
Secretary for Space Weather,
International Space Environment Service (ISES)
Chief, Forecast and Analysis Branch
NOAA Space Environment Center
325 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80305-3337
USA
303.497.5275
303.497.7392 fax