University of Birmingham develops new space weather forecasting tool

A pioneering new space weather forecasting modelling suite will enable operational modelling of the upper atmosphere at the Met Office for the first time in a major breakthrough for UK atmospheric science. The suite, built at the University of Birmingham, and developed in collaboration with Lancaster University, the Universities of Leeds, Bath and Leicester and the British Antarctic Survey is now running on the Met Office’s new supercomputer. https://lnkd.in/etHKi2UC 🛰️ ☀️ ⭐ 🪐

A pioneering new space weather forecasting modelling suite will enable operational modelling of the upper atmosphere at the Met Office for the first time in a major breakthrough for UK atmospheric science. The suite, built at the University of Birmingham, is now running on the Met Office’s new supercomputer. 🛰️ ☄️ 🌡️ 👇 https://lnkd.in/etHKi2UC

Fantastic to see this new #spaceweather capability launched. We’ll done to all involved! A pioneering new space weather forecasting modelling suite will enable operational modelling of the upper atmosphere at the Met Office for the first time in a major breakthrough for UK atmospheric science. The Advanced Ensemble Networked Assimilation System is a new suite of space weather forecasting models available to the Met Office that focuses on how space weather can influence the thermosphere and ionosphere here on Earth. The suite, built at the University of Birmingham, and developed in collaboration with Lancaster University, the Universities of Leeds, Bath and Leicester and the British Antarctic Survey is now running on the Met Office’s new supercomputer. Full story in linked article: https://lnkd.in/ejv56Z-M

➡️ WCIT Space Working Group (STWG) Launches of radiation monitors took place concurrently on 17 October at Met Office sites in Camborne and Lerwick in the UK, as well as at De Bilt in the Netherlands operated by Dutch forecasters KNMI - Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute The monitors, developed by the University of Surrey, were attached to weather observation balloons and released from ground level to go up more than 100,000 feet, capturing live observations of radiation levels as they travelled through the Earth’s atmosphere and towards the stratosphere. Future launches will take place during space weather events to further enhance radiation models and improve understanding of how space weather influences radiation levels from high in the atmosphere to ground level. Met Office Senior Space Weather Manager Krista Hammond explained how the project will aid Met Office operations. She said: “Space weather monitoring is in its infancy compared to meteorology, so this project will provide a huge leap forward in terms of our understanding of how space weather events impact radiation levels through the Earth’s atmosphere. Professor Keith Ryden, Director of the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to participate in this first international launch of our new SAIRA-B space weather radiation probes on Met Office and KNMI balloons. Maarten van Aalst , DG KNMI - Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute said: “This coordinated balloon launch with the Met Office is a great example of how international collaboration ....” The project is part of the Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk (SWIMMR) programme, funded by the UK government and managed by the @Science and Technology Facilities Council which was a long-term project to improve the UK’s space weather forecasting capabilities. SWIMMR has been vital for UK forecasting and preparedness in recent years, funding projects around hazard mitigation, GPS protect and innovative research projects. Professor Ian McCrea SWIMMR programme lead at STFC RAL Space, said: “It is very pleasing to see these launches happening, especially with the international collaborative element involving our Dutch partners. A recent Value Report suggested that the Met Office’s space weather capability will be worth around £600million to the UK energy industry alone over the next decade, underlining the importance of timely, accurate and authoritative space weather forecasts and information. https://lnkd.in/eQT5qzZe

RSS-Hydro’s 2025 insights: Driving climate resilience through Earth observation and geospatial intelligence. Welcome to RSS-Hydro’s 2025 collection of articles, an eBook showcasing groundbreaking work that is driving a more sustainable future. This special eBook brings together a series of thought-leading articles that explore the company’s pioneering work in Earth observation, space technology, and data-driven climate resilience. Each piece captures the essence of RSS-Hydro’s mission – to push geospatial innovation to the next level for a more sustainable future. As natural disasters intensify and the effects of climate change ripple through economies and ecosystems, the ability to transform space-based data into actionable intelligence has never been more vital. RSS-Hydro’s commitment to developing solutions that are transparent, open, and community-focused underscores its belief that science should serve everyone. What to expect in this eBook This eBook presents five insightful articles that showcase RSS-Hydro’s expertise, its evolving relationship with the space sector, and its vision for a sustainable future. How feasible are dual-use space technologies? CEO and Founder Dr Guy Schumann examines the opportunities and challenges of technologies that serve both civilian and defence purposes. The role of space tech and AI in building climate resilience This feature explores how AI and advanced satellite systems are revolutionising Earth observation to support climate resilience. How space tech innovations are revolutionising Earth observation Focusing on projects like FloodSENS and CeDaRS, this article details how ESA-backed innovations are reshaping Earth observation with smaller satellites, hyperspectral imaging, and in-orbit processing. Simplicity: The unsung hero of the new space economy RSS-Hydro makes a powerful case for simplicity as the foundation of reliability, accessibility, and sustainability. Leveraging public data and grants in the new space and satellite Earth observation market Why its a must read This eBook offers a glimpse into how innovation and collaboration are changing the way we understand and protect our planet. Through these articles, RSS-Hydro demonstrates how geospatial intelligence transforms data into real-world solutions – from enhancing flood preparedness to supporting sustainable decision-making. Whether you’re a researcher, policymaker, or simply curious about the impact of space technology on our planet, this publication offers valuable insights into how it can be applied across sectors to build a more resilient and sustainable future. Read / Download for FREE #ebook #spaceobservation #climatedata #floodmonitoring #wildfire #floods #climatechange #sustainability #climatenews #space

Scientists have launched the first batch of a novel type of #radiation monitor into the #atmosphere as part of an innovative project to enhance #space #weather #models - the proof of concept launch took place concurrently on 17 October at Met Office sites in Camborne and Lerwick in the UK, as well as at De Bilt in the Netherlands operated by Dutch forecasters KNMI. Developed by the University of Surrey, the monitors were attached to weather observation balloons and released from ground level to go up more than 100,000 feet, capturing live observations of radiation levels as they travelled through the Earth’s atmosphere and towards the stratosphere. https://lnkd.in/eC7d96tM

"The University of Stirling will play a leading role in a major new international satellite project, funded by the UK Space Agency, that is dedicated to monitoring water quality from space... Stirling’s specific role is to develop a system to accurately detect nuisance plankton blooms and pollution events from space. This builds on the University's decade-long history of pioneering the use of satellite data to monitor inland and coastal waters." - University of Stirling #satellitedata #earthobservation #waterquality https://lnkd.in/emnq8MCT

🌍 Top 15 Free Satellite Imagery & Earth Observation Data Sources (2025 Update) Whether you’re a GIS analyst, remote sensing researcher, or environmental professional — here are some of the best portals for accessing free satellite imagery and geospatial datasets 👇 1️⃣ USGS Earth Explorer 🌐 https://lnkd.in/dCPqWusb 🛰️ Landsat (optical), declassified CORONA, Hyperion hyperspectral 2️⃣ Sentinel / Copernicus Browser 🌐 https://lnkd.in/dDBTARNr 🛰️ Sentinel-2 (optical multispectral), Sentinel-1 (SAR) 3️⃣ NASA Earthdata Search 🌐 https://lnkd.in/dZQ9yXZz 🛰️ Land cover, atmosphere, cryosphere, biosphere products 4️⃣ NOAA Data Access Viewer 🌐 https://lnkd.in/dtEdh_qs 🛰️ Satellite, aerial imagery, coastal LiDAR 5️⃣ Maxar Open Data Program 🌐 http://maxar.com/open-data 🛰️ High-resolution disaster imagery, stereo, elevation, footprints 6️⃣ Geo-Airbus Defense 🌐 https://lnkd.in/d3EkT_MV 🛰️ SPOT, Pleiades (optical), TerraSAR-X (radar), WorldDEM 7️⃣ NASA Worldview 🌐 https://lnkd.in/dnujDZpG 🛰️ Interactive visualization of global scientific satellite data 8️⃣ NOAA CLASS (Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System) 🌐 http://class.noaa.gov 🛰️ GOES/POES imagery, aerosols, ozone, environmental data 9️⃣ ISRO Bhuvan 🌐 http://bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in 🛰️ Indian satellite data: IRS, Cartosat, OceanSat, CartoDEM 🔟 JAXA ALOS World 3D (AW3D30) 🌐 http://eorc.jaxa.jp 🛰️ Global 30 m DSM / elevation from ALOS L-band radar 1️⃣1️⃣ NOAA Digital Coast 🌐 https://lnkd.in/dsapmfAa 🛰️ Coastal imagery, elevation, radar, socio-economic data 1️⃣2️⃣ PROBA-V MEP (GeoViewer) 🌐 https://lnkd.in/dwJDSb-9 🛰️ PROBA-V, SPOT-VGT, METOP — global vegetation trends 1️⃣3️⃣ Global Land Cover Facilities 🌐 (global land cover data sources via e.g. landsat, MODIS, AVHRR) 🛰️ Landsat, MODIS, AVHRR — global land use/land cover maps 1️⃣4️⃣ UNAVCO (SAR & Geodesy Data) 🌐 http://unavco.org 🛰️ SAR, tectonic deformation, geodesy data for Earth science 1️⃣5️⃣ INPE (Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research) 🌐 http://dgi.inpe.br 🛰️ CBERS, ResourceSat, UK-DMC — regional optical datasets Follow us: https://lnkd.in/dXzJqUti For More info: https://lnkd.in/dgm-6mv6 #GIS #RemoteSensing #SatelliteImagery #EarthObservation #GeospatialData #NASA #USGS #Sentinel #Landsat #Copernicus

2025 NASA Space Apps Challenge -3 DAYS 🛰️📡Through the Radar Looking Glass: Revealing Earth Processes with SAR Difficulty Level: Intermediate to Advanced ⭐Background Earth #remotesensing helps us acquire information from a bird’s eye view. #Spaceborne and #airborne instruments image the planet and provide #Earthobservations to inform decision makers in addition to #fieldsurveys conducted on the ground. Many of these instruments conduct passive remote sensing by measuring energy from the Sun that reflects off Earth, but #radar instruments conduct active remote sensing to image Earth. Active remote sensing instruments emit and receive their own sources of energy. Radar sensors use energy in the #microwave band of the #electromagneticspectrum. A #SAR instrument “synthesizes” a long antenna by combining a sequence of acquisitions from its actual, shorter antenna to provide higher spatial resolution data. SAR instruments send out a #pulse of energy that reacts with Earth’s surface and is reflected back to the instrument and recorded. SAR instruments can be used to study forest structure, soil moisture, wetlands, ocean topography, sea ice, and more. SAR data can be collected day or night and even in cloudy weather, which allows for critical data collection during disaster events like oil spills, wildfires, hurricanes, etc. Public SAR data is available for several instruments (see Resources tab) at different spatial resolutions, polarizations, and frequencies. Radar images are more than just typical satellite images that you may see with your Global Positioning System (#GPS) app. Radar data is most sensitive to two things: roughness and moisture content (the dielectric constant). Furthermore, since water has a high dielectric constant, SAR data also highlights water bodies, flood inundation, and soil moisture. In addition, sensors employing different frequencies/wavelengths (e.g., #C-band, #L-band, #P-band, etc.) provide data from varying penetration depths on Earth. Analyzing the data collected by these different sensors can enable studies such as monitoring different layers of a forest canopy (e.g., branches and leaves vs. soil and litter). ⭐Objectives Your challenge is to peer through the looking glass… by analyzing radar remote sensing data from SAR instruments that employ different polarizations and frequencies to reveal information about physical drivers on Earth. As you climb through the mirror like Alice to a world turned upside down, you will discover that data in each frequency reveals a different clue. Oil spills are seen in one wavelength but not the others, forest canopies and understories are highlighted only in certain polarizations. More riddles await you! (...) Find here more details, data and resources related to this challenge: https://lnkd.in/dmR8zXUY #LearnLaunchLead

Scientists have launched the first batch of a novel type of radiation monitor into the atmosphere as part of an innovative project to enhance space weather models. https://lnkd.in/eaWWEXky #weatherforecasting #data