Research on Numerical Space Weather Forecast by Using the Supercomputer System

Recent progresses in computer power and numerical techniques enable us to simulate dynamic processes in the earth's magnetosphere. NICT has achieved real-time simulation of the magnetospheric response to the solar wind by using the supercomputer system. Now we can obtain some clues to understand when and how magnetospheric disturbances occur and evolve.

About Real-Time Magnetosphere Simulation

The real-time magnetosphere simulation is carried out using the MHD code developed by Prof. Tanaka. Input parameters are taken from the real-time solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field data observed routinely by the ACE satellite. Simulation results are visualized in real time. Note all of the plots here are based on the preliminary data (ACE Real Time Data), which have not been processed yet. (Press right panel to get the explanation of real-time magnetosphere simulation results (LatestImage))

Toward the Numerical Space Weather Forecast

Numerical simulations provide one of the most powerful tools in revealing dynamic phenomena in the space environment. We provide the auroral activity index (AE index), environment data at the geosynchronous orbit at the midnight, and 3-D view of the real-time magnetosphere data. Our success in reproducing a real-time response in the magnetosphere is the first step toward realization of the numerical space weather forecast system.