Development of New Capabilities Using Machine Learning for Space Weather Prediction

With the development of space exploration and space environment measurements, the numerous observations of solar, solar wind, and near Earth space environment have been obtained in last 20 years. The accumulation of multiple data makes it possible to better use machine learning technique, which has achieved unforeseen results in industrial applications in last decades, for developing new approaches and models in space weather investigation and prediction. In this paper, the efforts on the forecasting methods for space weather indices, events, and parameters using machine learning are briefly introduced based on the study works in recent years. These investigations indicate that machine learning, especially deep learning technique can be used in automatic characteristic identification, solar eruption prediction, space weather forecasting for solar and geomagnetic indices, and modeling of space environment parameters.      

Research Advances of Solar Corona and Interplanetary Physics in China: 2012–2014

Solar transients and their related interplanetary counterparts have severe effects on the space environments of the Earth. Therefore, the research of solar corona and interplanetary physics has become the focus of study for both solar and space scientists. Considerable progress has been achieved in these aspects by the solar and space physics community of China during 2012–2014, which will be given in this report. The brief report summarizes the research advances of solar corona and interplanetary physics into the following parts: solar wind origin and turbulence, coronal waves and seismology, solar eruptions, solar energetic particle and galactic cosmic ray, magnetic reconnection,Magnetohydrodynamic(MHD) models and their applications, waves and structures in solar wind,propagation of ICMEs/shocks and their arrival time predictions. These research achievements have been achieved by Chinese solar and space scientists independently or via international collaborations.     

Alfvn Waves in the Solar Wind

Alfvn waves are found to be ubiquitous in the solar wind.Recent progress in observational studies of the waves is reviewed to formulate a microscopic picture for the Alfvenic fluctuations. The main aspects of the observational properties of these waves,including the wave intervals, propagation,evolution,origin and generation,are presented.Then Alfven wave heating and acceleration of the solar wind plasma are briefly introduced.The relation of the waves to rotational and tangential discontinuities,magnetic decreases,and other relatively large-scale structures such as flux tubes/ropes,magnetic clouds and interplanetary coronal mass ejections in the solar wind is particularly investigated.Finally,some remaining open questions are also indicated due to their fundamental importance of understanding of the physical nature of Alfven waves and the role of the waves in heating and accelerating the solar wind.     

Space Research Plan of China's Space Stationormalsize

China's manned spaceflight missions have been introduced briefly, and the research planning of space sciences for China's Space Station (CSS) has been presented with the topics in the research areas, including:life science and biotechnology, microgravity fluid physics and combustion science, space material science, fundamental physics, space astronomy and astrophysics, earth sciences and application, space physics and space environment, experiments of new space technology. The research facilities, experiment racks, and supporting system planned in CSS have been described, including:multifunctional optical facility, research facility of quantum and optic transmission, and a dozen of research racks for space sciences in pressurized module, etc. In the next decade, significant breakthroughs in space science and utilization will hopefully be achieved, and great contributions will be made to satisfy the need of the social development and people's daily life.      

Space Solar Physics in 2012-2014

The main activities of Chinese space solar physics in 2012–2014 include: to continue studying the mid and long-term(2016–2030) plan of Chinese space solar physics; to arrange a group of pre-study projects of space solar physics; to initiate and continue a few solar mission-level projects.This paper summarizes all these activities briefly.     

Development of Space Environment Research and Service in China

During the past two years, space environment has achieved great development in space environment monitoring, model research, system developing and space environment service in China. In this paper, we mainly introduce space environment safety support for Shenzhou-7 manned spacecraft, two typical space environment operation platforms, and the advance of Re-locatable Atmospheric Observatory (RAO). At the last part of this paper, the Sub-committee on Space Environment(SSE) which was set up in 2009 under the Technical Committee on Space Technology and Operation of Standardization Administration of China is briefly introduced.      

Space Solar Physics in China:2014—2016

The activities of Chinese space solar physics in 2014—2016 were mainly undertaken within the framework of Strategic Priority Program on Space Science, sponsored by CAS, which include:to accomplish the last version for the mid and long-term (2016—2030) plan of Chinese space solar physics;to subsidy a few of pre-study projects of space solar physics;to implement two intensive study projects, ASO-S and SPORT. This paper summarizes these activities briefly.      

Development of Operational Space Weather Prediction Models

In this report, we summarize the needs of space weather models, and recommend that developing operational prediction models, rather than transitioning from research to operation, is a more feasible and critical way for space weather services in the near future. Operational models for solar wind speed, geomagnetic indices, magnetopause, plasma sheet energetic electrons, inner boundary of ion plasma sheet, energetic electrons in outer radiation belt, and thermospheric density at low Earth orbit, have been developed and will be introduced briefly here. Their applications made a big progress in space weather services during the past two years in China.      

Pc5 Oscillation Analysis by the Satellite and Ground-Based Data

Large amplitude Pc5 event was observed in the space and on ground on August 3, 2001, about three hours after contact of the strong discontinuity in the solar wind with the magnetosphere according to data from ACE and Wind satellites. The Pc5 amplitude was as high as 15 nT in the tail of magnetosphere and about 5 nT at the ground based stations. In the magnetosphere Pc5 waves were observed by Cluster and Polar satellites, which occupied positions in the morning part of the near tail at the close field lines but were parted by distance of 11.5 Re, mainly along the x-axis of the GSM coordinate system. Both compressional and transverse components of the Pc5 wave activity were observed in the space, with the transverse component having the larger amplitude. Time delay between the Cluster and Polar satellites was about 8 minutes, which could be interpreted as a wave propagation from the geomagnetic tail to the Earth with the 150 km/s group velocity. The ground-based Pc5 activity was analysed by using data from the Image magnetometer network. Doubtless demonstrations of a field line resonant structure were found in variations of amplitude and polarization with latitude. Finnish chain of search coil magnetometers observed modulated Pc1 emission simultaneously with the Pc5 wave train. A possibility of non-linear impact of Pc5 wave energy on the plasma and waves in the magnetosphere is discussed.     

Progress of Solar Corona Study in China

Solar corona study is an important aspect of space weather research.In recent years,great achieVements have been acquired on the solar corona study by the space physics group of China.This paper gives a brief outline of these progresses that have been made during 2006--2008.This kind of research includes observational study of the corona,theoretical investigations,statistical analysis based on a large number of data sets,numerical method for MHD modeling,numerical study of space weather events,and prediction methods for the complicated processes originating from the solar corona.Each is given as a separate part in the following.      

Space astronomy in China: 2008—2010

In 2008 to 2010, the main activities in Chinese space astronomy were focused on: fulfilling the long-term plan of Chinese space astronomy; initiating the long-term plan of Chinese space astronomy; undertaking some astronomical missions set by CNSA in ``Development Program of Space Science for 2006--2010'. This paper summarizes in brief all these activities.      

Space Solar Physics in China

The activities of Chinese space solar physics in 2018-2020 are going on smoothly. Besides the missions of ASO-S and CHASE which are in the engineering phases, there are quite a number of projects which are in the pre-study stage (conception study) or have finished the pre-study stage, constituting a rich pond for the selection of next solar mission(s). This paper describes in brief the status of all these related projects.      

Research Progress of Solar Corona and Interplanetary Physics in China: 2010-2012

The scientific objective of solar corona and interplanetary research is the understanding of the various phenomena related to solar activities and their effects on the space environments of the Earth. Great progress has been made in the study of solar corona and interplanetary physics by the Chinese space physics community during the past years. This paper will give a brief report about the latest progress of the corona and interplanetary research in China during the years of 2010?2012. The paper can be divided into the following parts: solar corona and solar wind, CMEICME, magnetic reconnection, energetic particles, space plasma, space weather numerical modeling by 3D SIP-CESE MHD model, space weather prediction methods, and proposed missions. They constitute the abundant content of study for the complicated phenomena that originate from the solar corona, propagate in interplanetary space, and produce geomagnetic disturbances. All these progresses are acquired by the Chinese space physicists, either independently or through international collaborations.      

National Report on Space Medicine Progress in 2012–2014

The application of manned spaceflight makes a great impetus on the development of space medicine. With the deep growth of Chinese manned space, our national space medicine has attained great achievements. In this paper, the basic research of Space Medicine and its application in China during 2012–2014 were briefly reviewed.     

Magnetospheric Physics in China

In the past two years, many progresses were made in Magnetospheric Physics by using the data of SuperMAG, Double Star Program, Cluster, THEMIS, RBSP, DMSP, DEMETER, NOAA, Van Allen probe, Swarm, MMS, ARTEMIS, MESSENGER, Fengyun, BeiDa etc., or by computer simulations. This paper briefly reviews these works based on papers selected from the 248 publications from January 2018 to December 2019. The subjects covered various sub-branches of Magnetospheric Physics, including geomagnetic storm, magnetospheric substorm, magnetic reconnection, solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere interaction, radiation belt, ring current, whistler waves, plasmasphere, outer magnetosphere, magnetotail, planetary magnetosphere, and technique.      

Space Astronomy in China:2006—2008

In 2006 to 2008,the main activities in Chinese space astronomy focus on:(1) undertaking some missions set by CNSA,like HXMT,SMESE,WSO/UV,SST,KUAFU,and so on;(2) drawing up a long-term plan of Chinese space astronomy.This paper summarizes in brief all these activities.     

National Report on Space Medicine Progress in 2010-2012

Accompanying the flourishing developments of China’s manned spaceflight, space medicine has achieved great development during the past two years in China. In this paper, scientific research of space medicine and its application in China during 2010?2012 have been briefly introduced.      

Space Solar Physics in China

The activities of Chinese space solar physics in 2016-2018 can be divided into two categories:prestudy projects and mission-level projects. Both projects were undertaken smoothly. Especially the ASO-S, after several years' promotion, finally got formal approval at the end of 2017. This paper describes in brief the status of all related projects.      

National Report on Space Medicine Progress in 2014—2016

The progress of China Spaceflight makes a great impetus for the development of space medicine. With the developing of China Space Station, the national space medicine has attained great achievements. In this paper, the basic research of Space Medicine and its application in China during 2014-2016 are briefly reviewed.      

Advance of interplanetary physics study in China: 2008—2010

Interplanetary physics study is an important ingredient in space weather research. Considerable progress this aspect has been achieved by the space physics community of China in recent years. This brief report summarizes the latest advances of the interplanetary physics research in China during the period of 2008--2010. This report includes solar corona and solar wind, interplanetary transients, energetic particles, MHD simulation, space plasma, and prediction methods for physical phenomena originating from both solar corona and interplanetary space.