Space Environment Laboratory

Welcome (SGI/Sun audio file 160 kbytes, 8 kHz, µ -law)

The Space Environment Laboratory (SEL) concerns itself with the Sun and the environment between the Sun and the Earth. It conducts research in solar-terrestrial physics, develops techniques for forecasting solar and geophysical disturbances, and provides real-time monitoring and forecasting of solar and geophysical events.

Of particular interest to users of space environment data will be our real-time data available here:

Today's Space Weather (35 kbytes): This is a quick overview of the space environment between Sun and Earth. Included are a current full disk image of the sun, Xray plots from the GOES-7 satellite, plots of the satellite environment and partial text from SESC's solar-terrestrial forecast.
On-line Data: The SEL Gopher Server and anonymous ftp server provide solar-geophysical data and summary reports, as well as forecasts of solar activity. The files are updated several times a day.
Current Solar Images (20-130 kbytes): Current solar images such as full disk magnetograms and Helium 10830s from Kitt Peak; full disk and region images in H-alpha from Learmonth, Australia, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; full disk H-alpha from Space Env. Lab, Boulder, Colorado.
Forecast Evaluation Page: This page presents various tables, diagrams, and a glossary to help explain the complex process of evaluating forecast quality.

To ensure uninterrupted service to its customers, The Space Environment Laboratory must soon replace its current data acquisition and display system (SELDADS II). This system and its hardware have been in continuous operation for nearly 10 years (far exceeding the expected useful life of about 5 years for computer equipment); the data acquisition systems are currently operating at their limit, and much of the hardware is no longer supported by its manufactures.

SELDADS II's work load continues to grow as SEL's data streams become more numerous and complex. To deal with these ever-increasing demands, SEL is planning and needs to implement a new system (SELDADS III), whose hardware and software modules can evolve in conjunction with other computer networks and hardware.

SELDADS II and III must run in parallel for a time so that service will not be interrupted. Therefore, acquisition of SELDADS III must begin in FY 1996 so that the new system can be ready for operation in FY 1997.

Funding for SELDADS III is currently in the President's FY 1996 budget request and is now before Congress. To find out how you can help to ensure an adequate appropriation for SEL and SELDADS III, please contact Scott Rayder (srayder@rdc.noaa.gov).

To find out more about who we are, click on any item underlined below:

There are several other sites which provide information which may be of interest:

JOSO - Joint Organization for Solar Observations. Pointers to many solar and space organizations and projects.
DASOP Information about the French Dipartement d'Astronomie Solaire. Also, pointers to other solar organizations.
Views of the Solar System provides an educational tour of the solar system. It contains images and information about the Sun, planets, moons, asteroids, comets and meteoroids found within the solar system.
The Nine Planets Page provides general information about various objects in the solar system and information about the sun,
The Current Issue of Solar News presents announcements from various solar observatories and organizations.
The IPS Radio Propagation and Space Environment Services Home Page
The Plasma Science and Technology Home Page
The National Geophysical Data Center manages environmental data in the fields of solar-terrestrial physics, solid earth geophysics, marine geology and geophysics, paleclimatology, and glaciology.
The Space Environment EffectsBranch, NASA Lewis, maintains a list of space environment and effects resources available through the web.
Environmental Research Laboratories
NOAA Index page
U.S. Department of Commerce
Links to other sites providing solar images

Comments or suggestions about what is on the system, or what should be, can be directed to Vern Raben, NOAA/SEL, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80303 (vraben@sel.noaa.gov) Phone (303)497-5711.