COST Action ES0803

Workshop on Assessment and Validation of Space Weather Models
Alcala, Spain, 16-17 March 2011

Call for Papers

The main objective of the workshop is the assessment and validation of space weather models developed by the European research community. To aid achieving the objective, advances on space weather model validation made internationally will be presented by invited experts. Models to be considered may be research models, pre-operational models, operational prototypes and fully operational implementations. Categories to be considered include physical, semi-empirical and empirical models, automatically or operator initialized models, models based on a deterministic or a probabilistic approach or a combination of both, models using assimilative schemes. A common requirement is the predictive capability which is the key parameter to be evaluated. For the purpose of this workshop predictive means that the model is able to produce values of physical parameters which can be compared with observations. Prediction is more comprehensive than forecast which means producing future values of physical parameters.

Contributions are solicited in the following areas:

  • Compilation of European predictive space weather models and verification methods
  • Observation uncertainties, impact of physical correlations on uncertainties in models and uncertainty propagation through models to predictions
  • Quantitative and objective validation of model performance
    • Physical parameters appropriate for metrics definition
    • Physical limitations on model performance
    • Critical assessment of model prediction lead time
  • Developer approaches to model validation versus user requirements
  • Assessment and classification of the predictive power of space weather models

The workshop will consist of a selection of invited and contributed talks and posters. Interactive presentations are welcome. We foresee a concluding discussion addressing two objectives,

  • attempt to match requirements for space weather model validation seen from a user's point of view with capabilities for validation seen from a model developer's point of view,
  • formulate recommendations on how the COST Action ES0803 may proceed in order to develop guide lines for assessment and validation of space weather models.

The workshop is organised in conjunction with the 5th Management Committee Meeting (MCM) of the COST Action ES0803 which will take place on 15 March 2011. Please note that although the MCM is restricted to the National Representatives and to invited experts, participation in the Workshop (on 16 and 17 March 2011) is open to the whole community, and free of any registration fee.

Instructions and schedule for abstracts submission:

  • Please submit your abstract through the on-line tool available at http://www.spaceweather.es/cost/home.html.
  • Deadline for abstracts submission is Monday 7 February 2011.
  • Participants will be informed concerning the acceptance and scheduling of their submissions on Wednesday 9 February 2011, through the workshop's web site.

Participants will be encouraged to publish their work in the newly established "Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate".