The US government has released results of its first-ever multiday emergency drill to assess preparedness for massive solar storms. The Space Weather Operations, Research, and Mitigation (SWORM) task force found significant room for improvement in coordination among institutions.
Institutions need better interoffice responses, particularly when it comes to educating themselves and the public about cosmic forces that threaten societal infrastructures. Government agencies also lack Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans for solar storms, leading to confusion on how and when these plans are activated.
The drill’s results showed that experts are only able to accurately assess incoming impacts around 30 minutes before a coronal mass ejection reaches Earth. SWORM recommended developing an advanced warning system, even if it’s imprecise. The task force also highlighted the need for more advanced space weather satellite systems and sensors capable of monitoring complex factors.
Despite criticism, participants in the drill reported gaining a better understanding of solar storms and their consequences, as well as the importance of interagency communications about space weather. Just one day after the meeting, an extreme geomagnetic storm hit Earth, temporarily affecting power grids and satellite orbital patterns.
Source: https://www.popsci.com/science/first-solar-storm-emergency-drill