Space Weather Modeling Framework: A new tool for the space science community

Abstract

[1] The Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) provides a high-performance flexible framework for physics-based space weather simulations, as well as for various space physics applications. The SWMF integrates numerical models of the Solar Corona, Eruptive Event Generator, Inner Heliosphere, Solar Energetic Particles, Global Magnetosphere, Inner Magnetosphere, Radiation Belt, Ionosphere Electrodynamics, and Upper Atmosphere into a high-performance coupled model. The components can be represented with alternative physics models, and any physically meaningful subset of the components can be used. The components are coupled to the control module via standardized interfaces, and an efficient parallel coupling toolkit is used for the pairwise coupling of the components. The execution and parallel layout of the components is controlled by the SWMF. Both sequential and concurrent execution models are supported. The SWMF enables simulations that were not possible with the individual physics models. Using reasonably high spatial and temporal resolutions in all of the coupled components, the SWMF runs significantly faster than real time on massively parallel supercomputers. This paper presents the design and implementation of the SWMF and some demonstrative tests. Future papers will describe validation (comparison of model results with measurements) and applications to challenging space weather events. The SWMF is publicly available to the scientific community for doing geophysical research. We also intend to expand the SWMF in collaboration with other model developers.

Waves on the dusk flank boundary layer during very northward interplanetary magnetic field conditions: Observations and simulation

“…BATS-R-US is the Global Magnetosphere (GM) module of the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) designed to model the space environment for various space physics applications [Tóth et al, 2005]. The SWMF contains nine modules that cover the various regions between the Sun and Earth.…”

Downstream structure and evolution of a simulated CME-driven sheath in the solar corona

“…However, for CMEs near the sun, the magnetic configuration in the sheath and its evolution are not well understood. Manchester et al (2005) simulated the CME with an earlier version of the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) developed at the University of Michigan (Toth et al 2005). In their simulation, the heating of the solar wind is assumed to be a given function of latitude.…”

Magnetospheric Model Performance during Conjugate Aurora

“…The results from the IMAGE and POLAR observations will be compared to the outputs of the SWMF/BATS-R-US model both with and without the Comprehensive Ring Current Model (referred to as BATSRUS and BATS-CRCM from here on) [Tóth et al, 2005], the OpenGGCM model [Raeder et al, 2001;Fuller-Rowell et al, 1996], and the CMIT/LFM-MIX model (referred to as LFM) [Lyon et al, 2004;Merkin and Lyon, 2010]. We ran all of these models from the NASA Community …”