ESA Space Weather Working Team (SWWT)

The ESA Space Weather Working Team (SWWT) is a forum open to both space weather experts and users of space weather information. The SWWT investigates space weather applications’ requirements, space weather services, and the underpinning research and development. It advises ESA, particularly the Space Weather Office within the Space Safety Programme, on strategies and activities related to space weather. SWWT membership is open to representatives of any European entity or individual currently undertaking space weather related activities or affected by space weather^1,2.

The SWWT will seek to recommend strategic priorities for space weather operational services and underpinning research. These recommendations may for example build on ongoing community initiatives and roadmaps. The SWWT will also highlight associated data requirements including availability and timeliness needs

For further information about becoming a member of the SWWT, contact Mario Bisi or Alexi Glover

Terms of Reference

SWWT Terms of Reference 

Contact Information

If you want to send emails to the SWWT mailing list, please use the address: swwt@jiscmail.ac.uk If you want to register to receive emails from this list, change your list subscription or visit the list archives, please visit the URL: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/swwt

Topical Working Groups

The Topical Working Groups (TWGs) are intended to cover key areas of space-weather phenomena and/or impacts and are agreed upon by the SWWT SB. Their purpose is to form strategic guidance in relation to ongoing space weather activities targeting their subject area while highlighting the most relevant new activities to the SB and to the wider community at the SWWT Plenary meetings when pertinent to do so. TWGs shall maintain awareness of ongoing international coordination efforts and shall seek to report on scientific and technical developments ongoing internationally in their subject area. These may be seen to be of high relevance in the European context.

All members of the SWWT are invited to participate in the TWGs. The current list of TWGs is as follows:

• Drivers of Space Weather (e.g. solar, S-Univ T, including future missions and instrumentation)
  • Subgroup: Solar Storms (Solar Flares, CMEs, SEP events), spokesperson: O. Malandraki (NOA)
• Ground Effects (GIC, prospecting, tourism), spokesperson: A. Kis (HUN-REN EPSS)
• Atmospheric Effects (incl. drag), spokesperson: S. Bruinsma (CNES)
• Ionospheric Effects, spokesperson: B. Forte (Univ Bath)
• Spacecraft, Launcher and Aircraft Environments, spokesperson: G. Reitz (DLR)
• Education, Outreach and Emerging Markets, spokesperson: Vacant
• Space Weather Forecast, spokesperson: S. Bloomfield (Northumbria University)
• Radio for Space Weather, spokespersons: M. Messerotti (INAF), M. Bisi (UKRI STFC RAL Space)

SWWT Documents

• Minutes of Plenary Meeting 44 (6th November 2024)
• SWWT Documents Archive

SWWT History

The SWWT was set up to coincide with the start of ESA's two parallel space weather studies in 1999 and originally consisted of approximately 30 SWWT members coming from a variety of backgrounds and ESA member states. During the period in which the parallel studies were carried out, the main SWWT goal was to ensure that both the consortia led by RAL and Alcatel-Space were aware of as many European space weather related assets as possible. In 2003 the SWWT became open to the wider European space weather community during the Space Weather Application Pilot Project. During this phase, the SWWT assisted ESA in evaluating the lessons learned from the operation of the pilot project and how these changes could be implemented within a strategy for any future space weather programme. With SWWT membership steadily growing it was decided in 2006 to create the SWWT Steering Board (third phase of the SWWT). On Jan 1st 2009 the SWWT entered its fourth phase with the formal launch of the ESA Space Situational Awareness Preparatory Programme (SSA-PP). Today the SWWT has grown into a community of more than 200 members covering a wide range of disciplines and nationalities. The SWWT was initially chaired by Dr. Roger Gendrin. Thereafter, Prof. Willi Riedler chaired the SWWT between December 2001 and May 2003. Following this, Dr. Francois Lefeuvre was elected by the membership in June 2003, acting in this capacity until early 2006. Following elections, Dr. Mike Hapgood took up the post of Chair in June 2006. In 2009 Dr. Norma Crosby was elected as SWWT chair. Following this, Prof. Stefaan Poedts (K.U. Leuven) was elected as Chair in 2012 and Dr Mario Bisi (STFC RAL Space) was elected as chair in 2022.

SWWT Steering Board

The SWWT Steering Board meets at least twice a year with the aim to synthesize SWWT Strategic Priorities, for presentation to ESA Space Weather office representatives and other concerned parties, as appropriate. It also regularly contributes to reviews of the ESA Space Weather Service Network progress and planning and other programmatic activities.

Current members are:

1: Non-European interested parties are welcome to join the mailing list and attend the meetings on advance agreement with the Chair

2: Membership of this group shall be understood to include Canadian experts, following Canada's status as an ESA Associate member.