Opening Statement of Rep. Vernon Ehlers at House Science Committee Space Weather Hearing
OPENING STATEMENT OF
THE HONORABLE VERNON J. EHLERS
CHAIRMAN
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, TECHNOLOGY AND STANDARDS
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
What is Space Weather and Who Should Forecast It?
Thursday, October 30, 2003
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
2318 Rayburn House Office Building
Good morning! Welcome to this oversight hearing entitled, “What is Space Weather and Who Should Forecast It?” As a physicist, I must admit that, when we began to plan for this hearing last month, I did not think it would garner much attention outside the scientific community. However, thanks to divine intervention, we now have major solar storm activity to coincide with the hearing. We hope the lights will stay on, and our webcast capabilities will not be impacted.
The purpose of the hearing is to examine the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (better known as NOAA) Space Environment Center. This center, abbreviated SEC, provides real-time monitoring and forecasting of solar storms. The SEC is located with other NOAA labs in Boulder, Colorado, in the district of Mr. Udall, the Subcommittee ranking member.
Many of us may think of solar eruptions as a curiosity, or as the source of the beautiful aurora borealis often observed by residents in the northern U.S. However, as highlighted by recent media attention, these solar events can have serious repercussions for Earth-based technological systems. They cause geomagnetic storms in the Earth’s atmosphere that can disrupt communication systems, cause surges on electric power grids, and be harmful to airline passengers and astronauts. NOAA’s SEC provides vital space weather forecasts for civilian industries concerned with these effects. Additionally, SEC forecasts are used by the Air Force to provide tailored recommendations for military users concerned with space weather.
Despite its important role in protecting the nation’s technological systems from geomagnetic storms, some here in Congress have proposed to reduce or eliminate funding for NOAA’s SEC. In the House Fiscal Year 2004 appropriations bill for NOAA, SEC funding levels are 35 percent below the Administration’s request of eight million dollars. Of even greater concern, the Senate Appropriations Committee bill contains no funding for SEC and includes the suggestion, without any justification, that the Air Force or NASA should take on the duties of predicting space weather.
Today we will hear from representatives of NOAA, the Air Force and NASA about the roles of each agency in monitoring and forecasting space weather. Then we will hear from representatives of three industries that rely on SEC forecasts– the electric power grid industry, the airline industry, and the communications satellite industry. These experts will help us to better understand the impact of space weather on the Earth and to examine the question of who should be responsible for forecasting it.
