Solar activity: Exploration, understanding and prediction

Henrik Lundstedt(1), Peter Wintoft(1), Fredrik Boberg(1), Magnus Wik(1), Jesper Munk-Jensen(1), Rickard Lundin(2), and Lars Eliasson(2)

(1) Swedish Institute of Space Phyics, Lund, Sweden
(2) Swedish Institute of Space Phyics, Kiruna, Sweden

Oral

Did we predict the intense solar storm on Bastille Day in 2000, on Halloween in 2003 or in January 2005?  Are we capable of predicting the strength of the next solar cycle? Are we capable of  predicting the next Maunder Minimum? All these events have a strong impact on society and  the climate. Despite that, predictions are not very good and need to be improved.

This workshop is devoted to exploring, explaining and forecasting solar activity. We welcome presentations of wavelet studies of solar activity, forecasts of solar activity using  solar theory, helioseismic results and neural networks. New ideas on how  to understand better long-term solar activity related to climate changes are also of great interest.

The workshop will also discuss how upcoming exciting new space and ground-based observations could improve forecasts and there will be presentations of newly started international solar programs.

It is planned that the workshop will end with a videoconference Ð "A Forecast Forum". Regional Warning Centers  of International Space Environment Service and Solar Groups are going to participate and forecasts and observations in real-time will be discussed.