How is space weather predicted?
The Sun and interplanetary space are monitored for notable changes in solarrelated phenomena that can provide forecasters clues about the chances of space weather storms.
Space weather generally refers to activity on the Sun, in the large vacuum of space between Earth and the Sun and ultimately here at and around Earth. The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, Colorado, is continuously staffed – 24 hours every day – to monitor space weather and provide daily forecasts. The SWPC also issues warnings and alerts about substantial space weather storms and events, because they may impact technologies we rely upon today.
The Sun goes through an 11-year cycle whereby solar activity is less common (solar minimum) and more frequent (solar maximum). We are now heading towards solar maximum over the next several years, so not only will solar activity increase, but strong space weather storms will become more probable. Visit swpc.noaa.gov for all sorts of current space weather information and forecasts.