Formulation of NOAA’s Space Weather Next Program

NOAA’s Office of Space Weather Observations (SWO) is formulating the next generation space weather observing system, Space Weather Next (SW Next). SW Next will provide continuity for the space-based observations needed to sustain operational space weather monitoring and forecasting capabilities at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC). It will also provide enhancements beyond current capabilities that better serve the industries impacted by space weather. As part of the formulation of the program, a detailed study to identify the economic and societal benefits associated with SW Next observations is being conducted. Space weather poses a threat to a number of industries including electric power, satellite operations, and civil aviation. To understand how user communities derive value from space weather observations, value chains are constructed by tracing how SW Next sensors will feed into downstream products and services and ultimately user decisions. This trace is key to understanding the value of a program and key to tracing user needed improvements back to model and sensor performance. Economic and societal benefits are derived from the ability of these end-user communities to mitigate detrimental space weather impacts by utilizing timely and accurate space weather information in their operational decisions. The valuation of these benefits builds upon past studies and incorporates new understanding of space weather impacts.