At this year’s American Geophysical Union meeting, NASA scientists will provide updates on a range of Earth and space science topics, including an overview of the Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, an upcoming Earth science mission that will measure the height of Earth’s fresh and saltwater. This illustration shows the SWOT satellite in orbit.

SWORD

The Space Weather Operational Readiness Development (SWORD) Center of Excellence, led by principal investigator Dr. Thomas Berger at the University of Colorado Boulder, aims to improve our ability to predict and understand the impact of space weather events on satellites in low Earth orbit and in cis lunar space.

The primary focus of SWORD is to conduct research into how the geospace environment responds to the constantly changing output of the Sun throughout its magnetic cycle, effectively connecting forecasting models of space weather in both the thermosphere and ionosphere. In addition, SWORD will conduct research into advanced data assimilation methods to improve the ability to forecast conditions during geomagnetic storms, which is crucial for protecting satellites, airlines, and other orbital space operations from any adverse effects of geomagnetic storms.

Location

University of Colorado Boulder

Program Focus

Orbital and Cis-Lunar Environment Forecasting

Principal Investigator

Dr. Thomas Berger

ProJECT Manager

Julia Putt

A bright looping burst of material flows off the Sun

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME): Coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are immense clouds of magnetized particles blasted into space by the Sun at over a million miles per hour, often following after a solar flare. CMEs expand as they sweep through space, often measuring millions of miles across. When directed at Earth, a CME can produce geomagnetic disturbances that ignite bright auroras, short-circuit satellites, and power grids on Earth, or at their worst, even endanger astronauts in orbit.

SWORD Collaborators and Partners

The SWORD Center, in addition to its researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, collaborates with other institutions such as the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the University of Michigan, the University of Alaska, the University of Iowa, NASA’s Langley Research Center, and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.