Space Weather Diagnostics and Forecasting Laboratory
Research directions:
Monitoring the neutron component of cosmic rays with the high-altitude neutron monitor 18NM-64 (altitude 3340 m above sea level, “Cosmostation”);
Physics of galactic and solar cosmic rays, and their propagation characteristics from the heliosphere boundaries to the Earth using the high-altitude 18NM-64 monitor and neutron monitors of the global network;
Physics of near-Earth space, in particular the behavior of galactic cosmic-ray density and anisotropy, the geomagnetic field, high-energy magnetospheric electrons in geostationary orbit, and high-energy protons;
Daily diagnostics of near-Earth space using the Kazakh multi-level space-weather diagnostics and forecasting system, including real-time measurements of neutron intensity on the 18NM-64 monitor, geomagnetic field strength, and solar radio emissions at 1 GHz and 2.8 GHz, as well as global observations of solar activity across different wavelengths and the interplanetary and near-Earth environment from space observatories and satellites;
Identification of disturbed space-weather periods and their solar sources;
Development of methods for forecasting radiation and geomagnetic conditions based on data from the neutron-monitor network, ground-based, and satellite measurements;
Daily forecasting of the average daily Ap index of geomagnetic activity and solar radio flux (2800 MHz) for 55 days in numerical and graphical form; forecasting the probability of proton enhancements with peak flux > 10 pfu for > 10 MeV and > 100 MeV particles for 28 days in numerical and graphical form; and forecasting the fluence of high-energy magnetospheric electrons (E > 2 MeV) in geostationary orbits for 28 days;
Studying the influence of space-weather factors on the operation of satellites and aviation;
Investigation of lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling and disturbance transmission mechanisms from the lithosphere to ionospheric altitudes during the preparation and onset of major earthquakes using ground- and satellite-based observations, and development of a theoretical model of electromagnetic lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere coupling based on electrodynamics equations in anisotropic media.