University of Alberta

Published purpose

This project is entitled ""Improved space weather radiation belt radiation specification and forecasting using GO Canada data"". The project team will generate computer-based models to improve our understanding of the Earth's radiation belts. The radiation belts contain energetic particles which are hazardous to satellites. The team will use data from Canadian magnetometer arrays deployed across Canada and instruments on foreign scientific satellites to develop their computer simulations and target how particles in near-Earth space are remarkably accelerated to reach speeds close to the speed of light. The goal is to advance our understanding of how this harsh space radiation is created and thereby target improved space weather forecasting and better protection of satellites from severe space weather effects.