Space Weather
Two complementary data streams monitoring the Sun-Earth environment: real-time indices from NOAA SWPC and structured event data from NASA DONKI.
NOAA SWPC — Real-Time Monitoring
Continuous space weather indices from the Space Weather Prediction Center:
| Metric | Description | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Kp Index | Planetary geomagnetic activity (0–9 scale) | Kp |
| Solar Radio Flux | 10.7cm solar flux — proxy for overall solar activity | sfu |
The Kp index is the primary indicator for geomagnetic storms:
| Kp | Storm Level | Effects |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 | Quiet | Normal conditions |
| 4 | Unsettled | Minor fluctuations |
| 5 | G1 Minor Storm | Weak power grid fluctuations, minor satellite impact |
| 6 | G2 Moderate | Power systems may need voltage corrections, HF radio fades |
| 7 | G3 Strong | Power grid alarms, GPS degradation, HF radio intermittent |
| 8 | G4 Severe | Widespread power grid problems, satellite surface charging |
| 9 | G5 Extreme | Grid collapse risk, satellite damage, HF radio blackout |
NASA DONKI — Event Intelligence
The Database Of Notifications, Knowledge, Information provides structured space weather events with causal chain tracking — every event links to its causes and effects.
Event Types
| Type | Metric | What It Is |
|---|---|---|
| CME | donki_cme_speed | Coronal Mass Ejection — billion-ton plasma cloud, speed in km/s |
| FLR | donki_flare_class | Solar Flare — electromagnetic burst, M/X class scale |
| GST | donki_storm_kp | Geomagnetic Storm — observed Kp when storm hits Earth |
| RBE | donki_radiation_belt | Radiation Belt Enhancement — dangerous for satellites |
| HSS | donki_high_speed_stream | High Speed Stream — fast solar wind from coronal holes |
The Causal Chain
Space weather events are linked — DONKI tracks the full chain:
Solar Flare (M2.7) → CME (731 km/s, 2-3 day transit)
→ Interplanetary Shock → Geomagnetic Storm (Kp 6)
→ Radiation Belt Enhancement → Satellite anomaliesEach DONKI event includes linkedEvents cross-references, enabling traversal from any point in the chain.
CME Earth Impact Prediction
For Coronal Mass Ejections, NASA’s WSA-ENLIL+Cone model predicts:
- Estimated shock arrival time at Earth (1–3 days out)
- Predicted Kp index at multiple clock angles
- Whether it’s an Earth-directed event or a glancing blow
This gives advance warning before the storm actually hits — crucial for power grid operators and satellite teams.
Why It Matters
Space weather isn’t just an astronomical curiosity — it has real infrastructure impact:
- Power grids — geomagnetically induced currents can damage transformers
- GPS/navigation — ionospheric disturbances degrade accuracy
- Aviation — radiation exposure on polar routes during SEP events
- Satellites — surface charging, drag changes, electronic upsets
- HF radio — solar flares cause immediate radio blackouts
- Pipeline corrosion — induced currents accelerate corrosion
The 1989 Quebec blackout was caused by a geomagnetic storm (Kp 9). The entire province lost power for 12 hours. A Carrington-level event today could cause trillions in damage.