As the Sun Awakens, NASA Keeps a Wary Eye on Space Weather

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As the Sun Awakens, NASA Keeps a Wary Eye on Space Weather.

Earth and space are about to come into contact in a way that's new to human history. To make preparations, authorities in Washington DC are holding a meeting: The Space Weather Enterprise Forum at the National Press Club on June 8th.


Many technologies of the 21st century are vulnerable to solar storms. [more] Richard Fisher, head of NASA's Heliophysics Division, explains what it's all about:

"The sun is waking up from a deep slumber, and in the next few years we expect to see much higher levels of solar activity. At the same time, our technological society has developed an unprecedented sensitivity to solar storms. The intersection of these two issues is what we're getting together to discuss."

The National Academy of Sciences framed the problem two years ago in a landmark report entitled "Severe Space Weather Events—Societal and Economic Impacts." It noted how people of the 21st-century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. Smart power grids, GPS navigation, air travel, financial services and emergency radio communications can all be knocked out by intense solar activity. A century-class solar storm, the Academy warned, could cause twenty times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina.

Much of the damage can be mitigated if managers know a storm is coming. Putting satellites in 'safe mode' and disconnecting transformers can protect these assets from damaging electrical surges. Preventative action, however, requires accurate forecasting—a job that has been assigned to NOAA.

"Space weather forecasting is still in its infancy, but we're making rapid progress," says Thomas Bogdan, director of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado.

Bogdan sees the collaboration between NASA and NOAA as key. "NASA's fleet of heliophysics research spacecraft provides us with up-to-the-minute information about what's happening on the sun. They are an important complement to our own GOES and POES satellites, which focus more on the near-Earth environment."


STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) is a pair of spacecraft stationed on opposite sides of the sun with a combined view of 90% of the stellar surface. In the past, active sunspots could hide out on the sun's farside, invisible from Earth, and then suddenly emerge over the limb spitting flares and CMEs. STEREO makes such surprise attacks impossible.

SDO (the Solar Dynamics Observatory) is the newest addition to NASA's fleet. Just launched in February, it is able to photograph solar active regions with unprecedented spectral, temporal and spatial resolution. Researchers can now study eruptions in exquisite detail, raising hopes that they will learn how flares work and how to predict them. SDO also monitors the sun's extreme UV output, which controls the response of Earth's atmosphere to solar variability.


On April 19, 2010, SDO observed one of the most massive eruptions in years. Earth was not in the line of fire ... this time. [full story] Bogdan's favorite NASA satellite, however, is an old one: the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) launched in 1997. "Where would we be without it?" he wonders. ACE is a solar wind monitor. It sits upstream between the sun and Earth, detecting solar wind gusts, billion-ton CMEs, and radiation storms as much as 30 minutes before they hit our planet.

"ACE is our best early warning system," says Bogdan. "It allows us to notify utility and satellite operators when a storm is about to hit.”

NASA spacecraft were not originally intended for operational forecasting—"but it turns out that our data have practical economic and civil uses," notes Fisher. "This is a good example of space science supporting modern society."

2010 marks the 4th year in a row that policymakers, researchers, legislators and reporters have gathered in Washington DC to share ideas about space weather. This year, forum organizers plan to sharpen the focus on critical infrastructure protection. The ultimate goal is to improve the nation’s ability to prepare, mitigate, and respond to potentially devastating space weather events.

"I believe we're on the threshold of a new era in which space weather can be as influential in our daily lives as ordinary terrestrial weather." Fisher concludes. "We take this very seriously indeed."

For more information about the meeting, please visit the Space Weather Enterprise Forum home page at http://www.nswp.gov/swef/swef_2010.html.

Amateur Radio Operator receives ticket from uneducated police officer for radio use.

A video is now available of the TV news channel YNN report on the ticketing of a New York radio ham by a police officer who mistakenly thought a ham radio was a cell phone.

Radio Amateur Steve Bozak WB2IQU was issued with a $100 ticket for just talking on his ham radio.

Arnold Proskin, a legal expert said, "It's not grey at all. It's black and white. The statute is very clear, very specific. It must be to your ear. It must be a cell phone and that's what we're talking about."

H.R. 2160: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009

H.R. 2160 now has 38 cosponsors and has been referred to commitee:

To promote and encourage the valuable public service, disaster relief, and emergency communications provided on a volunteer basis by licensees of the Federal Communications Commission in the Amateur Radio Service, by undertaking a study of the uses of amateur radio for emergency and disaster relief communications, by identifying unnecessary or unreasonable impediments to the deployment of Amateur Radio emergency and disaster relief communications, and by making recommendations for relief of such unreasonable restrictions so as to expand the uses of amateur radio communications in Homeland Security planning and response.

2010 National Hurricane Conference

I am proud to announce that the ARRL Southeastern Division will host the 2010 National Hurricane Conference, March 29 - April 2 at the Orlando Hilton Orlando, FL. This is the nation's forum for education and professional training in hurricane preparedness!

The primary goal of the National Hurricane Conference is to improve hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation in order to save lives and property in the United States and the tropical islands of the Caribbean and Pacific. In addition, the conference serves as a national forum for federal, state and local officials to exchange ideas and recommend new policies to improve Emergency Management.

On Tuesday March 30th, from 1:30 to 5:00pm all hams are invited at no cost to attend the Amateur Radio, Disaster Communications Before, During and After Hurricanes session in room Orange C.

On Wednesday March 31st, from 8:30 to 10:00am there will be an amateur radio session designed for Emergency Managers, called "Amateur Radio: The Emergency Manager's Hidden Resource".

Please send this information to all emergency communications groups, clubs and every ham that might be interested. This conference will help Amateur Radio be successful in hurricane preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation!

For all the information see, http://www.hurricanemeeting.com/

Hope to see you there!
73,
Greg Sarratt, W4OZK
Director, ARRL Southeastern Division

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ARRL Southeastern Division
Director: Greg Sarratt, W4OZK
w4ozk@arrl.org
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The Mid Floirda Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - MS Bike 150

The Mid Floirda Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - MS Bike 150
Need hams for communications support. Please visit http://www.polkemcomm.org/MS150.htm


May 15 - 16, 2010

Bok Tower Gardens
Lake Wales, FL
to
Caribe Royale Resort Orlando, FL


Bike MS is a two-day inspirational ride held by National MS Society chapters across the nation. Each year, Bike MS raises funds that support programs to enhance the lives of people living with MS, as well as funding vital research to help create a world free of MS.

ARRL Requests Support for Senate Bill 1755

ARRL Requests Support for Senate Bill 1755
Senate Bill 1755 -- The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act of 2009 introduced in October 2009 by Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) -- has unanimously passed the US Senate and has been sent to the US House of Representatives for consideration and now sits in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The ARRL is asking its membership to contact the leadership of the Energy and Commerce committee, requesting support and action on moving S 1755 through the committee. S 1755 accomplishes the same things as HR 2160; HR 2160 was introduced in April 2009 by Rep Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX-18). Since S 1755 has already been approved by the Senate, moving it forward in the House will simplify the process.

S 1755 points out that "[t]here is a strong Federal interest in the effective performance of Amateur Radio Service stations, and that performance must be given -- (A) support at all levels of government; and (B) protection against unreasonable regulation and impediments to the provision of the valuable communications provided by such stations."

If enacted into law, S 1755 would instruct the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to undertake a study -- and report its findings to Congress within 180 days -- on the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio communications in emergencies and disaster relief.

The study shall:



Include recommendations for enhancements in the voluntary deployment of Amateur Radio licensees in disaster and emergency communications and disaster relief efforts.
Include recommendations for improved integration of Amateur Radio operators in planning and in furtherance of the Department of Homeland Security initiatives.
Identify unreasonable or unnecessary impediments to enhanced Amateur Radio communications, such as the effects of private land use regulations on residential antenna installations, and make recommendations regarding such impediments.
Include an evaluation of Section 207 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-104, 110 Stat. 56 (1996)).
Recommend whether Section 207 should be modified to prevent unreasonable private land use restrictions that impair the ability of amateurs to conduct, or prepare to conduct, emergency communications by means of effective outdoor antennas and support structures at reasonable heights and dimensions for the purpose, in residential areas. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall utilize the expertise of stakeholder entities and organizations, including Amateur Radio, emergency response and disaster communications.


Please contact Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA-30) and Ranking Member Joe Barton (R-TX-6), urging them to send this bipartisan bill to the House floor for adoption. A sample letter can be found here. Send your letters urging consideration of S 1755 by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to Rep Waxman via fax at 202-225-2525, and to Rep Barton via fax at 202-225-1919. Also, please fax a copy of your letters to the ARRL's Washington representative, Chwat & Co at 703-684-7594.

WC4PEM VHF RPTR JAMMING AM/PM RUSH HOUR TIME

TO: VOLUNTEERS
FROM: KD4EFM
DATE: Mon Mar 8 17:14:31 EST 2010
SUBJECT: WC4PEM VHF RPTR JAMMING AM/PM RUSH HOUR TIME
AREA: EASTERN POLK COUNTY (HWY 27 CORIDOOR)

All Stations, Please check your radio's if you drive Highway 27 during the Morning and Evening hours. We have an individual who has a stuck mic on 146.985, for the last 4 weeks now and is traveling with a female, and listens to 97.5 FM (97 Country WPCV). It is either an HT or mobile on Low Power.

For all others, If you are able to monitor the input 146.385, please email your reports to kd4efm@polkemcomm.org so I can get a couple of members to help track down the offending radio.

Please call or SMS your info to me at 863-860-1713 or Blackberry PIN to: 30965B58

Thanks for understanding, and yes, this is a DF operation as it has continued beyound a 24 hour time period alotted for testing.
This is not a drill. Any and ALL help in locating this ham and clearing the issue would be of importance at this time.


Evans Mitchell
Polk ARES AEC
Polk County, Fl

Technician Class License Course Announcement

Technician Class License Course Announcement

Hillsborough County ARES/RACES, in cooperation with Hillsborough County Emergency Management, is proud to sponsor the introductory Amateur Radio “Technician Class” License Course in a traditional classroom setting.

Please invite your friends to come join the over 300 people who have taken these courses and earned or upgraded an Amateur Radio license during the last few years.

This course will be held on two Saturdays – the 20th of March and the 3rd of April 2010, at the Museum of Science and Industry, located at 4801 East Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33617. Class will start at on both days at 9AM and continue until 5PM. On the 3rd of April, testing will begin at 3:30PM.

The introductory Technician course will be based around the current ARRL Technician Class book, “The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual”.

There will also be a “Show and Tell” of various Amateur Radio experiences during the classes.

If you wish to start studying before class, Amateur radio practice tests for license courses are available on-line at http://www.qrz.com/p/testing.pl. Choose the Technician exam pool.

The fees, with the book, bring the cost for this class to $45. You will pay for the course at class time. Please bring a government-issued picture ID card with you, as well.

Due to a generous grant from Hillsborough County, the fees for this class will be reimbursed after successfully passing the test given on
Saturday the 3rd of April.

The class size is limited – and you can sign up online! In order to properly prepare materials and gauge class sizes, please send an email to training@hcaresraces.org to reserve your seat in this class. The registration deadline is Monday, March 15th, 2010.

If you are unable to attend both sessions of your course, please let us know about that as well – there is some scheduling flexibility for this class.

We look forward to seeing your friends and family there!

Keating Floyd
RACES Officer
ARES Emergency Coordinator
Hillsborough County