SPARX
SPARX (Solar PArticle Radiation swX) is a space weather forecasting system for SEP radiation associated with solar eruptive events. It is based on solution of 3D relativistic full-orbit equations of motion for a set of test particles, without assumption of field line-tied propagation.
SPARX has the capability to produce SEP profiles within minutes of being triggered by observations of a solar eruptive event. A pre-generated database of output files of the test particle model is consulted to produce a forecast of the SEP flux profiles for protons with energy E>10 MeV and E>60 MeV. A high energy version of SPARX was developed in 2023 to make forecasts for protons above 300 MeV.
For a full description of SPARX see Marsh et al 2015 and Waterfall et al 2023.
SPARX was developed with funding from the EU, within a consortium project called COMESEP (Coronal Mass Ejections and Solar Energetic Particles - forecasting the Space Weather Impact). Its further development was funded by a NERC grant via the SWIMMR programme.
SWARM
SWARM (SWIMMR Aviation Risk Modelling) is a NERC-funded project involving a 5-member UK consortium to deliver tools for nowcasting and forecasting of SEP radiation risk to the UK Met Office. The project is funded by the SWIMMR (Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk) initiative, a four-year Strategic Priorities Fund programme that will improve the UK's capabilities for space weather monitoring and prediction.
Within SWARM, the SPARX model for SEP Space Weather forecasting has been extended and improved for application to high energy SEPs (see Waterfall et al 2023) and a new tool to predict Ground Level Enhancement (GLE) intensity profiles and durations is being developed. As one of the main deliverables of the work, the software developed within the project has been made available to the Met Office.
VSWMC
VSWMC (Virtual Space Weather Modelling Centre) is an ESA-funded project that combines a variety of state-of-the-art Space Weather models in an integrated tool, that allows linking of separate models into a complete Sun-to-Earth chain
Within this project, SPARX has been integrated into the VSWMC modelling framework.