1. 7 th European Space Weather Week, Brugge, 15 Nov 2010 Recent Programmatic Developments in the UK Mike Hapgood, Alan Thomson, Bryn Jones and Richard Horne mike.hapgood@stfc.ac.uk

2. 7 th European Space Weather Week, Brugge, 15 Nov 2010 Unprecedented interest  Space weather recognised as a natural hazard –Under review within national risk planning process (input for 2011 review) –Interconnectivity is recognised as critical issue –Encouraged to propose to include in NH research programme (for NERC strategy review Spring 2011)  Political interest –Foundation for Science & Technology –EIS Summit, 20 Sep –Parliamentary inquiry, 10 Nov  Business interest –Insurance –Business continuity groups

3. 7 th European Space Weather Week, Brugge, 15 Nov 2010  Threat to power grids from SpW and EMP  Range of technical presentations including –Grid risks (John Kappenman) –Swedish grid experience (Magnus Olofsson) –Aviation (Bryn Jones) –Impact of grid loss (Bronius Cikotas)  Many US and UK experts present  16 other countries (mainly embassy staff)  Strong political presence, especially US & UK –Chaired by two members of US HoR –Hosted by Chair of HoC defence committee –Speeches by UK security and defence ministers –Attracted much media interest EIS Summit  Report on www.empcoalition.com www.empcoalition.com

4. 7 th European Space Weather Week, Brugge, 15 Nov 2010 HoC inquiry Written evidence from:  Government  Clive Dyer  British Antarctic Survey  Royal Astronomical Soc.  Royal Aerospace Soc.  Royal Acad. Engineering  MIST  UCL  SolarMetrics  Research Councils  Met Office Published 13 October

5. 7 th European Space Weather Week, Brugge, 15 Nov 2010 Insurance & business continuity  Long-standing interest from UK space insurance  Now expanding to wider insurance market  Also business continuity community

6. 7 th European Space Weather Week, Brugge, 15 Nov 2010 Planning for risks 3.44 We also monitor new and emerging risks, such as the potential impact of severe space weather on our infrastructure. Given the range of hazards and accidents that can cause large-scale disruption, and the very severe impacts of the worst of these, this risk grouping is judged to be one of the highest priority risk areas. Our approach is to plan for the consequences of potential civil emergencies no matter what the cause. (18 Oct 2010) Where to put SpW?

7. 7 th European Space Weather Week, Brugge, 15 Nov 2010 Community response  Number of meetings during 2010 –Within the UK expert community –And with government and policy bodies  Key outcomes –Re-activate UK space weather mailing list –Providing input to National Risk Assessment –Need to complement Carrington event: 1921 event, 1894/96 rad storms, ice core challenge, …. –Providing input to NERC natural hazards strategy –Setting up UK expert group …

8. 7 th European Space Weather Week, Brugge, 15 Nov 2010 Space Environment Impacts Expert Group  Experts: Chair; radio, geomag, particle & thermosphere env  Gov: CCS, GO Science, MOD, UKSA + others  Can feed into SAGE system

9. 7 th European Space Weather Week, Brugge, 15 Nov 2010 Where next?  Big problem is money –Government cutting spend by ~25% over 5 years –So difficult to get new money (SSA, etc)  National Risk Assessment –Concerned with big events –SpW in process for 2011 –Subsequent annual reviews  Longer-term aim is build economic case –How can we help operators with smaller events? –Also cumulative problems