Notice2024-11565
Request for Information on the NOAA Space Weather Scales (SWS)
Primary source
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Published
May 28, 2024
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) within NOAA NWS seeks information from interested parties regarding a possible revision to the Space Weather Scales (SWS), which are issued to communicate to the public current and future space weather conditions and possible effects on people and systems.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 103 (Tuesday, May 28, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 28, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46072-46073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11565]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XV199]
Request for Information on the NOAA Space Weather Scales (SWS)
AGENCY: National Weather Service (NWS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
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SUMMARY: The Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) within NOAA NWS
seeks information from interested parties regarding a possible revision
to the Space Weather Scales (SWS), which are issued to communicate to
the public current and future space weather conditions and possible
effects on people and systems.
DATES: Submit written comments on or before July 31, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The public may submit written comments on issues addressed
in this notification by either of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via
the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Visit <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and
type ``NOAA-NWS-2024-0069'' in the Search box. Click on the ``Comment''
icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written comments to Amy Macpherson, NOAA, 7220 NW
101st Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64153.
Instructions: Comments must be submitted by one of the above
methods to ensure that the comments are received, documented, and
considered by the Department of Commerce. Comments sent by any other
method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end
of the comment period, may not be considered. All comments received are
a part of the public record and may be posted for public viewing
without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name,
address) submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly
accessible. Do not submit confidential business information, or
otherwise sensitive or protected information. The Department will
accept anonymous comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Macpherson, NOAA, 7220 NW 101st
Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64153, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5b3a362275363a382b333e292834351b35343a3a753c342d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3455594d1a595557445c5146475b5a745a5b55551a535b42">[email protected]</span></a>, or 816-287-
1344
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA introduced the SWS in 1999 to
communicate to the public current and future space weather conditions
and possible effects on people and systems. However, space weather
capabilities, user base, and user needs have grown and changed
dramatically over the last two decades, and the SWS are challenged in
supporting the growing stakeholder needs. In December 2023, the White
House Office of Science and Technology Policy's National Science and
Technology Council published the Implementation Plan for the National
Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan. One of the actions directed the
agencies to ``Update and expand, as appropriate, the NOAA space weather
scales. NOAA scales should be updated and expanded with a focus on
forecasting impacts and specifying how space weather will
differentially affect systems, industries, sectors, or regions.''
NOAA is undertaking a revision to the SWS and through this request
for information (RFI) is soliciting public input to gather feedback
from a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from
industry, academia, other relevant organizations and institutions, and
the general public. The public input provided in response to this RFI
will inform NOAA in the scales revision process. Current NOAA Space
Weather Scale descriptions can be found at: <a href="https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation">https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation</a>
Discussion Points to Inform the SWS Revision
NOAA seeks input into revising the space weather scales with
discussion on
[[Page 46073]]
the following points, to the extent feasible:
1. Articulate what NOAA's space weather scales are used and
describe how are they used in missions and inform sector operations. If
there are other uses of the scales, please describe.
2. Please discuss the benefits of using the NOAA's space weather
scales and how they are useful. Include scenarios and situations of how
the space weather scales are useful for operators or how they are
useful in decision-making.
3. Describe challenges or difficulties in using the space weather
scales. Please include information regarding the content, context, and
information provided by the scales.
4. Provide suggested changes to the space weather scales including
articulating what aspects could be improved. Consider how the space
weather scales are communicated and provide suggestions for how scales
communication could be improved. In addition, discuss the impact to
your mission if the scales were to change.
5. Offer ideas for developing a new space weather scale(s). Include
what phenomenon should be captured by a potential new scale(s), discuss
how thresholds for a potential new scale(s) would be determined, and
provide some scenarios on how a new scale(s) would be used by the
community.
Please note that this is an RFI only. In accordance with the
implementing regulations of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),
specifically 5 CFR 1320.3(h)(4), this general solicitation is exempt
from the PRA. Facts or opinions submitted in response to general
solicitations of comments from the public, published in the Federal
Register or other publications, regardless of the form or format
thereof, provided that no person is required to supply specific
information pertaining to the commenter, other than that necessary for
self-identification, as a condition of the agency's full consideration,
are not generally considered information collections and therefore not
subject to the PRA.
Dated: May 21, 2024.
Michael Farrar,
Director, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National
Weather Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-11565 Filed 5-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-KE-P
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