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NASA’s Surya Heliophysics Foundational Model predicts violent solar storms two hours ahead, using SDO data to protect satellites, GPS, and power grids.
Early results suggest the AI model can generate visual predictions of solar flares two hours into the future, setting a new benchmark in the use of AI for space weather prediction. (Image: NASA)
In a significant achievement, NASA, in collaboration with IBM, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of predicting violent solar storms up to two hours before they erupt, according to a report in The Independent.
Named as Surya Heliophysics Foundational Model, the AI model uses nearly a decade of data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) to forecast space weather events that can disrupt satellites, GPS systems, and power grids.
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Predicting severe solar storms is hard because they form far away on the Sun, but can reach Earth very quickly—sometimes in just minutes or hours.
Surya is the first AI of its kind trained on high-resolution, long-term solar observations, captured every 12 seconds in multiple wavelengths, along with precise magnetic field measurements. These data span an entire solar cycle, making the model particularly effective at detecting subtle solar patterns that might signal an impending storm.
Solar storms originate from active regions—dark spots on the Sun—that become more frequent as the Sun approaches the peak of its 11-year activity cycle.
Predicting such events has traditionally been challenging due to the limited time between their formation and arrival on Earth. However, Surya’s early warning capabilities could give satellite operators and power companies crucial lead time to prepare.
According to Dr. Joseph Westlake, director of NASA’s heliophysics division, now space weather can be predicted more accurately just like how Earth weather is predicted.
“Just as we use meteorology to forecast Earth’s weather, space weather forecasts predict the conditions and events in the space environment that can affect Earth and our technologies,” the outlet quoted Westlake as saying..
Early results suggest Surya – Sanskrit for the Sun – can generate visual predictions of solar flares two hours into the future, setting a new benchmark in the use of AI for space weather prediction.
Unlike traditional AI models, Surya doesn’t require extensive manual data labeling. It builds directly on the SDO’s well-curated dataset, enabling faster and more precise analysis of solar activity.
The open-access AI model is now available on Hugging Face, GitHub, and through IBM’s TerraTorch library, allowing researchers worldwide to explore and improve its capabilities.
Researchers hope Surya will significantly enhance space weather prediction, offering better protection for astronauts, spacecraft, and Earth-based technologies.
What’s Solar Storm And How It Affects Us?
A solar storm is a sudden burst of energy, particles, and magnetic forces that the Sun shoots out into space.
When directed toward Earth, a solar storm can create a major disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field, called a geomagnetic storm, that can produce effects such as radio blackouts, power outages, and beautiful auroras. They do not cause direct harm to anyone on Earth, however, as our planet’s magnetic field and atmosphere protect us from the worst of these storms.
About the Author
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18…Read More
Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18… Read More
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