Space Radiation and Plasma Effects on Satellites and Aviation: Quantities and Metrics for Tracking Performance of Space Weather Environment Models

Abstract

The Community Coordinated Modeling Center has been leading community‐wide space science and space weather model validation projects for many years. These efforts have been broadened and extended via the newly launched International Forum for Space Weather Modeling Capabilities Assessment (https://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/assessment/). Its objective is to track space weather models' progress and performance over time, a capability that is critically needed in space weather operations and different user communities in general. The Space Radiation and Plasma Effects Working Team of the aforementioned International Forum works on one of the many focused evaluation topics and deals with five different subtopics (https://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/assessment/topics/radiation-all.php) and varieties of particle populations: Surface Charging from tens of eV to 50‐keV electrons and internal charging due to energetic electrons from hundreds keV to several MeVs. Single‐event effects from solar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays (several MeV to TeV), total dose due to accumulation of doses from electrons (>100 keV) and protons (>1 MeV) in a broad energy range, and radiation effects from solar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays at aviation altitudes. A unique aspect of the Space Radiation and Plasma Effects focus area is that it bridges the space environments, engineering, and user communities. The intent of the paper is to provide an overview of the current status and to suggest a guide for how to best validate space environment models for operational/engineering use, which includes selection of essential space environment and effect quantities and appropriate metrics.

The Case for Improving the Robinson Formulas

“…We should not only correct the Robinson formulas but also conduct the relational study again, with the large observational sets providing a counterweight to the many numerical approaches available for such a leap forward. Combining data and modeling with robust metrics applications, as discussed recently by Morley et al (2018), Liemohn et al (2018), and Zheng et al (2019), for example, will allow a full assessment of the strengths and limitations of such a model. Others in the community have already been making the call for new studies on ionospheric conductance.…”

On-orbit calibration of geostationary electron and proton flux observations for augmentation of an existing empirical radiation model

“…In the area of spacecraft effects, this energy range includes the transition regime from surface charging to internal charging effects, identified as 50-100 keV, with 80 keV corresponding to a depth of 2 mils (0.051 mm) in aluminum (NASA, 2011). Zheng et al (2019) have identified the >10 keV integral electron flux as being well-correlated with surface charging anomalies. Accurate calculation of this integral is one reason to extend the energy range of the Denton et al (2015Denton et al ( , 2016 model above 40 keV.…”

Current state and perspectives of Space Weather science in Italy

“…Charged particle populations across a broad energy range may be responsible for Space Weather effects on satellites and aviation (Zheng et al, 2019), in either direct (e.g., during SEP or geomagnetic/ionospheric storm events) or indirect (e.g., influencing the background conditions) ways. In the circumterrestrial space, charged particles originate from different sources that are internal or external to the Earth system: several plasma populations extending to suprathermal energies, trapped energetic electrons and inner belt protons/ions, SEPs, and GCRs.…”