Met Office Partners With Aberystwyth University to Improve Space Weather Forecasts
· Technology · BBC News
The Met Office operates a 24-hour space weather prediction centre at its headquarters to monitor solar activity and protect vital infrastructure such as GPS, power grids, and satellites. Severe space weather could cost the global economy $2.4 trillion over five years, according to a 2025 estimate by Lloyds. The agency has collaborated with key infrastructure operators since 2014 to issue forecasts using ground and space equipment. While scientists can spot solar events three days before they reach Earth, observations are limited until the activity reaches satellites about one million miles away, leaving roughly one hour to predict precise effects. To narrow this window and improve forecasting accuracy, the Met Office has enlisted a research group led by Aberystwyth University alongside Northumbria, Durham, and Reading universities.
Why it matters
Accurate space weather forecasting gives critical operators like the National Grid sufficient warning to prevent widespread power cuts and disruption to aviation.
Read the original report — BBC News
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