Research Article

Progress in space weather modeling in an operational environment

¹ National Observatory of Athens, P. Penteli, Greece
² Solar-Terrestrial Centre of Excellence, Brussels, Belgium
³ Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
⁴ Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
⁵ Physikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos and World Radiation Center (PMOD/WRC), Davos, Switzerland
⁶ German Aerospace Center, Institute of Communications and Navigation, Neustrelitz, Germany
⁷ Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
⁸ Pushkov Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, Ionosphere and Radio Wave Propagation (IZMIRAN), Troitsk, Moscow Region, Russia
⁹ Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
¹⁰ Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome, Italy
¹¹ Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics SB RAS, Irkutsk, Russia
¹² University of Bradford, Bradford, UK
¹³ Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
¹⁴ Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland

^* Corresponding author: e-mail: tsagouri@noa.gr

Received: 19 June 2012
Accepted: 10 March 2013

Abstract

This paper aims at providing an overview of latest advances in space weather modeling in an operational environment in Europe, including both the introduction of new models and improvements to existing codes and algorithms that address the broad range of space weather’s prediction requirements from the Sun to the Earth. For each case, we consider the model’s input data, the output parameters, products or services, its operational status, and whether it is supported by validation results, in order to build a solid basis for future developments. This work is the output of the Sub Group 1.3 “Improvement of operational models” of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action ES0803 “Developing Space Weather Products and services in Europe” and therefore this review focuses on the progress achieved by European research teams involved in the action.