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Astroinformatics, Space Sciences and Heliophysics at the FHNW School of Computer Science

FLARECAST

Flare Likelihood and Region Eruption Forecasting


The fully automated system for predicting solar flares and space weather

ROLE OF THE INSTITUTE FOR DATA SCIENCE


> Computer science: software architecture, machine learning, algorithms

> Science communication: dialogue with industry, public engagement, citizen science, media

Project lead at I4DS: Hanna Sathiapal, Marco Soldati

Partners: international consortium

Funding: EU Horizon 2020

Project duration: 2015-2018


Keywords: machine learning, solar flare prediction, space weather forecasting

 

SUMMARY

FLARECAST is an automated forecasting system for solar flares – high-energy eruptions on the surface of the sun. Solar flares may trigger solar storms affecting technology on and near the earth. Until now, space weather forecasting is done based on observations and judgements of experienced scientists. This project develops algorithms based on machine learning methodologies for analysing solar active regions automatically and assessing the risk of an eruption.

PEOPLE @I4DS WORKING ON FLARECAST

Orell Bühler

Apprentice Software Emgineering

until 2018

Marco Soldati

Technical Lead Engineer

Florian Bruggisser

Coputer Science Engineer

until 2017

Samuel von Stachelski

Computer Science Engineer

until 2017

Colin Klausner

Software Engineering Apprentice

until 2018

Dario Vischi

Computer Science Engineer

until 2017

Hanna Sathiapal

Public Engagement Coordinator

until 2018
more information

OPEN RESOURCES AND RESULTS

VISUALS AND AUDIO

A solar flare in different wavelengths. Credits: NASA/SDO/Wiessinger
Active regions on the sun detected by the SMART algorithm. Credit: Paul A. Higgins
Solar Flare of April 17, 2016. Credits: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/SDO/Genna Duberstein
Different people working together towards a common goal. Faces and voices of the international FLARECAST Team. Credit Hanna Sathiapal