ARLA/CLUSTER: Reino Unido abriu oficialmente o " Space Weather Forecasting Centre " a 8 de Outubro.

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Space Weather Forecasting Centre officially opened

On October 8, 2014 Greg Clark, Minister for Universities, Science and
Cities, opened the UK's only dedicated space weather forecast centre

The Met Office Space Weather Centre, based at the Met Office's
headquarters in Exeter, is the culmination of more than three years
work to combine the space weather resources and scientific expertise
of the UK and USA and was made possible by £4.6 million funding from
Government.

It is operational 24/7 providing space weather forecasts and
developing an early warning system aimed at protecting critical
infrastructure from the impacts of space weather.

Universities, Science and Cities Minister Greg Clark said:"The Met
Office Space Weather Centre is a clear demonstration of how the UK is
a world leader in space weather. Not only will it help us to guard
against the impact of space weather, but its capabilities will mean
benefits for British businesses like those in the space industry and
the wider economy."

Met Office Space Weather Business Manager Mark Gibbs said: "The Met
Office Space Weather Operations Centre is the culmination of more than
three years' work drawing on the collective resources and expertise of
the UK and USA. It's a new, emerging and exciting area of science
where understanding is growing rapidly.

"Space weather is an all encompassing term covering the near-Earth
impact of solar flares, geomagnetic storms and coronal mass ejections
(CMEs) from the sun. The impact these have on Earth is becoming ever
more important as we become more reliant on technology."

Press release
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/releases/archive/2014/space-weather

Met Office Space Weather
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/publicsector/emergencies/space-weather