Start of funding 01.07.2014

Space weather prediction via computer simulations

Prof. Dr. Christian Klingenberg
University of Würzburg

Dr. Timothy Barth
NASA Ames Research Center



Space weather describes the changes in magnetic fields caused by changing plasma flows in the region between the sun and the earth. It has profound effects on space crafts, electrical transmission lines on the ground etc. It is caused by huge plasma eruptions on the sun, the so-called coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Prediction of CMEs is still in a very primitive state. This is where we intend to contribute in our joint research effort. We shall write a computer code for the mathematical equations that descibe the above phenomena. Recent measurements of the NASA of the near space weather will callibrate the code so that finally accurate predictions should be possible.