4:30 PM - 4:45 PM
[G02-09] A Study of In-demand Educational Program for Space Weather Casters and Space Weather Interpreters
Keywords:Space Weather Education, Space Weather Caster, Space Weather Interpreter
1. Introduction
Space weather refers to the conditions in the region from the sun to the upper atmosphere, which affects the performance of and reliability of space and terrestrial facilities, and human life. Nozawa Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, which conducts education and research on space weather, is studying a practical educational program for the development of Space Weather Casters and Space Weather Interpreters in cooperation with the Weather Caster Network, Kwasan Astro-Culture Foundation, and ABLab Space Weather Project. With the arrival of the 25th peak of the solar activity cycle, the systematization of space weather and the definition of warning levels in space weather forecasts are being promoted under the leadership of academia and experts. On the other hand, in industries that need to respond to business risks by utilizing them, there is little awareness of space weather risks in the first place. As a result, industries are vulnerable to dealing with space weather risks in practice. The mission of our practical education program is to contribute to the safety and security of society by building a social system that allows industry to recognize space weather risks and respond to risks that arise in business and social activities using space weather forecasting. In order to accomplish this mission, we believe that it is necessary to train "Space Weather Casters" who convey appropriate information and "Space Weather Interpreters" who protect social infrastructure.
2. Training for Space Weather Casters
One of the reasons for the low social awareness of space weather risk is the difficulty of understanding space weather. Therefore, we believe that it is necessary to develop human resources who can accurately convey practical space weather information in an easy-to-understand manner. We thought it would be possible to for weather casters, who have a track record of conveying weather information in the ground through the media, to expand their target area to space weather by a meteorologist who has a track record of transmitting information on the ground weather through the media. If it can be conveyed as part of weather in the same way as existing information on heat stroke and ultraviolet rays, it will be easy to penetrate society. Therefore, in FY2023, we held a space weather course for weather casters, "How to Make a Space Weather Forecast for the Weather Caster Network," and about 50 people registered to take the course.
3. Training for Space Weather Interpreters
We believe that in order to deal with space weather risks, it is necessary to for experts from academia and industry to work together because of the wide range of social impact of space weather. It is necessary for industry experts to acquire the necessary and sufficient knowledge and skills to respond to space weather risks, and to be able to evaluate and respond to their own space weather risks. We will first start training space weather interpreters for space system operators for space system operators. The purpose of this lecture is to improve the ability of space weather interpreters to play a role as safety managers in spacecraft operations and space activities. Participants will first learn about spacecraft accidents and serious concerns that occur in dangerous space environments, and then learn how to take measures against the space environment and how to use space weather hazard information. In addition, we will conduct spacecraft launch hold judgement and orbital avoidance judgment exercises for space weather.
4. Conclusion
The Nozawa Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, which conducts education and research on space weather, will start studying and implementing the curriculum of "Space Weather Caster Training Course" for weather casters from FY2023 and "Space Weather Interpreter Training Course" for space system operators from FY2024.
Space weather refers to the conditions in the region from the sun to the upper atmosphere, which affects the performance of and reliability of space and terrestrial facilities, and human life. Nozawa Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, which conducts education and research on space weather, is studying a practical educational program for the development of Space Weather Casters and Space Weather Interpreters in cooperation with the Weather Caster Network, Kwasan Astro-Culture Foundation, and ABLab Space Weather Project. With the arrival of the 25th peak of the solar activity cycle, the systematization of space weather and the definition of warning levels in space weather forecasts are being promoted under the leadership of academia and experts. On the other hand, in industries that need to respond to business risks by utilizing them, there is little awareness of space weather risks in the first place. As a result, industries are vulnerable to dealing with space weather risks in practice. The mission of our practical education program is to contribute to the safety and security of society by building a social system that allows industry to recognize space weather risks and respond to risks that arise in business and social activities using space weather forecasting. In order to accomplish this mission, we believe that it is necessary to train "Space Weather Casters" who convey appropriate information and "Space Weather Interpreters" who protect social infrastructure.
2. Training for Space Weather Casters
One of the reasons for the low social awareness of space weather risk is the difficulty of understanding space weather. Therefore, we believe that it is necessary to develop human resources who can accurately convey practical space weather information in an easy-to-understand manner. We thought it would be possible to for weather casters, who have a track record of conveying weather information in the ground through the media, to expand their target area to space weather by a meteorologist who has a track record of transmitting information on the ground weather through the media. If it can be conveyed as part of weather in the same way as existing information on heat stroke and ultraviolet rays, it will be easy to penetrate society. Therefore, in FY2023, we held a space weather course for weather casters, "How to Make a Space Weather Forecast for the Weather Caster Network," and about 50 people registered to take the course.
3. Training for Space Weather Interpreters
We believe that in order to deal with space weather risks, it is necessary to for experts from academia and industry to work together because of the wide range of social impact of space weather. It is necessary for industry experts to acquire the necessary and sufficient knowledge and skills to respond to space weather risks, and to be able to evaluate and respond to their own space weather risks. We will first start training space weather interpreters for space system operators for space system operators. The purpose of this lecture is to improve the ability of space weather interpreters to play a role as safety managers in spacecraft operations and space activities. Participants will first learn about spacecraft accidents and serious concerns that occur in dangerous space environments, and then learn how to take measures against the space environment and how to use space weather hazard information. In addition, we will conduct spacecraft launch hold judgement and orbital avoidance judgment exercises for space weather.
4. Conclusion
The Nozawa Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, which conducts education and research on space weather, will start studying and implementing the curriculum of "Space Weather Caster Training Course" for weather casters from FY2023 and "Space Weather Interpreter Training Course" for space system operators from FY2024.