From Soteria

The purpose of the semiannual report is to gather from every deliverable leader (DL) and from every milestone leader (ML) a description of the progress so far. In the future years we will specify also the progress in the last six months compared with the progress in the previous period. Being this the first semiannual report we will report primarily how the work has been started and how it is progressing.

The main purpose of the present exercise is not to advertise our great results so far (although we must do that too). The main purpose is to find out problem areas and items needing more focus and perhaps a rethinking. It is key that we discover problems now and not later. We have time now to take corrective measures but we will progressively have less time for that. So be open and do not try to sweeten the sore points. Be frank and direct. Were there is a problem, highlight it and let everybody know. Providing a suggestion to improve things if you can.

Having said that, please, give proper resonance also to successes.

Note: Important: As in the template given, please, start your report page with

[[Category:FirstSemiannualReport]]

We need this to create a complete report.

Contents 1 A Two Step Process 2 Step 1A: Deliverables Report 2.1 WP1 (All KU Leuven) 2.2 WP2 2.3 WP3 (UGOE) 2.4 WP4 2.5 WP5 2.6 WP6 3 Step 1B: Milestones Report 3.1 WP1 3.2 WP2 3.3 WP3 3.4 WP4 3.5 WP5 3.6 WP6 4 Step 2: State of the WP 4.1 Template 4.2 WP1 4.3 WP2 4.4 WP3 4.5 WP4 4.6 WP5 4.7 WP6 5 Financial reporting

A Two Step Process

Step 1:

The progress reporting is done in two stages. The DL and ML have two weeks, until 14/04 to write a summary of the state of their milestone or deliverable. There is a template provided below. Try to be succinct (=short) but also clear and do not leave any problem or any success out. List completely who is working on the milestone or deliverable. Give major attention at collaborations ongoing and collaborations that you suggest to try to pursue within Soteria and outside of it.

Step 2:

After the first phase, the work-package leaders (WP) will review the report for each of their milestones and deliverables and will write a (one-page suggested) report on the state of their work package highlighting successes, problems and suggesting solutions or improvements.

Step 1A: Deliverables Report

Deliverable_Template: Here is a sample empty template to be used as example.

WP1 (All KU Leuven)

D1.1	Establishment of the consortium and formulation of the rules of collaboration
D1.2	Final plan for the use and dissemination of  foregound
D1.3	Formation of the Advisory Board and of the Steering Board
D1.4	Organization of the Summer School and annual meetings, minutes of the meetings
D1.5	Awareness and wider societal implications
D1.6	Project webpage
D1.7	Yearly reports
D1.8	Budget (re)alloction
D1.9	Final Report

WP2

D2.1	SOHO/MDI Continuum faculae (KO)
D2.2	SOHO/MDI Sunspot data (SDD) (KO)
D2.3	NaD1 magnetograms (OBSPARIS)
D2.4	4 peer-reviewed publications (KO)

WP3 (UGOE)

D3.1	Energy release through flares and CMEs (LPI)
D3.2	3D CME structure and evolution (UGOE)
D3.3	Initiation of flares and CMEs(KU Leuven)
D3.4	High cadence H-alpha and CaK data (UNIGRAZ)
D3.5	SphinX database (SRC-PAS)
D3.6	SPIRIT/TESIS database (LPI)
D3.7	STEREO database (UGOE)
D3.8	Proba 2 SWAP and LYRA database (ROB)

WP4

D4.1	Catalogue of selected events (DTU)
D4.2	Scientific analysis report, Task 4.1 (HVAR) 
D4.3	Scientific analysis report, Task 4.2 (MTA-KFKI)
D4.4	Scientific analysis report, Task 4.3 (UOulu)
D4.5	Scientific analysis report, Task 4.4 (IEEA)
D4.6	Scientific analysis report, Task 4.5, a-g (KU Leuven)
D4.7	Data assimilation report, Task  4.5.h-j (NOVELTIS)
D4.8	Online predictive and diagnostics tools (ROB)

WP5

D5.1	Online flare prediction model (ROB)
D5.2	4 peer-reviewed scientific publications (all)
D5.3	Online nowcast of the VUV spectrum (CNRS)
D5.4	Nowcast of the middle atmosphere (PMOD-WRC)
D5.5	Intercalibration of TSI/VUV measurements (CNRS)

WP6

D6.1	Space Weather Document Repository (ROB)
D6.2	Virtual Observatory Action Plan (ROB)
D6.3	Online SOTERIA data service via VO (ROB)
D6.4	Online publ. VUV and MUV spectrum (CNRS)
D6.5	Online publ. chemical  composition (PMOD-WRC)
D6.6	Capacity building workshop (ROB)
D6.7	Open source solar image viewer (ROB)
D6.8	Online event and feature database (UNIGRAZ)
D6.9	Solar Week & planetarium show (UGEO)

Step 1B: Milestones Report

Milestone_Template: Here is a sample empty template to be used as example.

WP1

M1.1	Establishment of the consortium and formulation of the rules   (KU Leuven)
M1.2	Formation of the Advisory Board and of the Steering Board  (KU Leuven)
M1.3	Organization of the Summer School  (KU Leuven)
M1.4	On-time annual report submission  (KU Leuven)
M1.5	On-time final report  (KU Leuven)
M1.6	Steering group meetings  (KU Leuven)

WP2

M2.1	White-light faculae, start of publications   (KO)
M2.2	SDD catalogue for 2008  (KO)
M2.3	NaD1 magnetograms, start of publication  (OBSPARIS)
M2.4	results of photospheric studies  (KO)

WP3

M3.1	Report of quantitative estimates for the energy release ...  (LPI)
M3.2	Report of 3D CME structure and evolution incl. visualization  (UGOE)
M3.3	Report of improved physical model for the initiation of flares and CMEs  (ROB)
M3.4	Dissemination of SphinX, TESIS, H-alpha/CaK, Proba2 SWAP and LYRA, STEREO databases (UGOE)

WP4

M4.1	Collection of data and performed simulations for selected events  (DTU)
M4.2	Scientific data analysis completed Tasks  4.1, 4.2, 4.4  (MTA-KFKI-RMKI)
M4.3	Scientific data analysis completed Tasks  4.3, 4.5  (KU Leuven)
M4.4	New diagnostics and predictive tools for space storms (ROB)

WP5

M5.1	Start of exploitation of data from PROBA2, CORONAS & SDO (ROB)
M5.2	Delivery of middle atmosphere nowcast model  (PMOD-WRC)
M5.3	Delivery of VUV spectral reconstruction model  (CNRS)
M5.4	Delivery of flare prediction model  (ROB)

WP6

M6.1	Online publication of document repository  (ROB)
M6.2	Online publication (VO) of SOTERIA data  (ROB)
M6.3	Online publication of event and feature database  (UNIGRAZ)
M6.4	Solar European Week and planetarium show  (UGOE)

Step 2: State of the WP

Template

No need to repeat the information on the Milestones and Deliverable report. Just mention it when needed and refer to the appropriate M or D report.

1. A brief summary of the status
2. Highlight of the major achievements and their significance for the project and for science and society (so that non-experts can appreciate)
3. Major inter-beneficiary collaborations
4. Progress toward completion (e.g. 10% done), please detail by milestone/deliverable
5. Major problems and their resolution, specifying the milestone/deliverable where the problem is
6. Minor problems, specifying the milestone/deliverable where the problem is
7. Suggestions for new directions and improvements

WP1

All goals for the WP1 whose completion was required so far have been achieved.

The most important achievements include: the completion of the Grant Agreement and the establishment of the collaborative effort; the creation of the web site and of its wiki; the organization of the first steering board meeting and of the extraordinary meeting connected to it for fostering a collaborative spirit; formation of the Advisory Board.

Steps have been taken for all other activities as listed in details in the Milestones and Deliverable reports. In particular steps have been taken to organize the summer school in Trieste in collaboration with the new COST action in space weather and with the ICTP. The cpacity building workshop will be a separate event in Brussel organized at the facilities of the ROB beneficiary. The host for the first General Meeting has been identified(PMOD-WRC): the meeting will take place in Davos from January 12 in the morning to January 14, 2010.

A vigilant attention is kept on the financial and reporting requirements of the Grant Agreement and of its connected guidelines. Reporting is a key aspect and the present wiki-based 6-moth interim report is part of the efforts to ensure on-time reporting.

A problem arising in WP2 (see WP2 report for details) has been worked out with all people involved and resulted in no damage to the overall goals of the project.

WP2

1. Status

The WP2, "Photosphere" mainly focuses on one of the key issues formulated in the call: production of new types of space data. This will require the processing of tens of Terabytes. The ambitious program needs the implementation of powerful machines for computations and state-of-art observing instruments for observations. The efforts of the first six months were devoted to these starting tasks and the program is going on by schedule. The rest of activities is focused on writing papers relevant to the WP2 thematics, these works also started.

2. Achievements

These preparations pave the road to the final aim: an as detailed documentation of photospheric activity as possible. For this purpose all conditions are given and the work could have started by schedule. This is the most important achievement of the starting period. On a long term the reliable data have the most long-lasting value.

3. Collaborations

The following common themes are considered at present:

- Increasing the number of sunspot descriptors to be presented; ROB, KO .

- Production of the sunspot number based on the DPD and SDD databases; KO, ROB.

- Analysis of the hourly variation of the irradiance and the photospheric data; KO, CNRS (WP5).

- Photospheric measurements in the case study managed by the WP4; KO, OBSPARIS.

- Analysis of the solar active longitudes; KO, UOulu.

- Digitization of historical materials, KO, ROB, and outer partners.

- HVAR evaluates digitized UNIGRAZ (Kanzelhöhe) observations.

- All participants cooperate in the WP6, a common effort to form a general database system.

SOTERIA provides an important frame to initiate and maintain these collaborations and several further planned ones.

4. Progress

2.1 "SOHO/MDI continuum faculae " - the material of the first year will be published at 12 months. The program progresses by schedule, 25% done.

2.2 "SOHO/MDI sunspot data (SDD)" - the material of 2008 will be published at 14 months. The program progresses by schedule. 25% done.

2.3 "NaD1 magnetograms" - The program suffers a one-year delay for technical and personal reasons, (see 5.) 10% done.

2.4 "4 peer-reviewed publications" - four papers are recently in progress, the task will certainly be surpassed. 25% done.

5. Major problems

At present the only unexpected development is the partial delay of the implementation of the new high-resolution magnetograph by OBSPARIS (deliverable No. 2.3), the difficulties can be resolved by one year after the originally planned date. The delay doesn't threaten the basic aims of the work package, no external measure is necessary.

6. Minor problems

Personal problems may arise in several participating institutes. It became difficult to find and hire properly educated and well motivated people. This is a general phenomenon recently, there is no easy solution. This is no obstacle, only a difficulty.

WP3

1. Status

SOTERIA WP3 "Chromosphere and Corona" will investigate the initiation of solar eruptions, i.e. cornal mass ejections (CMEs) and their impact on the corona and heliosphere based on a unique set of ground- and space-observations at visible, EUV and X-ray wavelengths. The waves triggered by CMEs will be used as a diagnostic tool to remotely sense the plasma and magnetic field characteristics of the ambient corona. Using multi-spacecraft observations will allow to infer the 3D structure of CMEs and flaring regions and to help quantify their enegy input to the low corona an their heliospheric modulation up to Earth orbit. The newly established data sources will be integrated into the Virtual Observatory and results will be used as input for visualization for E/PO purposes.

The status of the deliverables and milestones is currently as planned and already provides major successes.

2. Achievements

- About 100 solar eruptions, i.e. coronal mass ejections (CMEs), have been observed stereoscopically since launch of the mission at angular separations of up to 90 degrees to date with the two STEREO satellites. SOHO observations provide a third eye on the Sun from the Earth perspective.

- In December 2008, for the first time ever, a CME has been directly tracked through the SECCHI instruments in real-time from Sun to Earth.

- On January 30, the CORONAS-PHOTON satellite was successively launched and the TESIS EUV telescope/spectroheliograph and SphinX spectrophotometer successfully operated in order to study solar activity.

- A baseline version of a German Planetarium Show has been established that introduces STEREO, the Sun, Space Weather and crediting the EU funding.

3. Collaborations

- Study of the energy release of solar eruptions (all): KULeuven, UNIGRAZ, ROB, OBSPARIS, SRC-PAS, UGOE, HVAR, LPI.

- 3D CME studies: UGOE, UNIGRAZ.

- Initiation of CMEs/flares (all): KULeuven, UNIGRAZ, ROB, OBSPARIS, SRC-PAS, UGOE, HVAR, LPI.

- CORONAS-PHOTON data: SRC-PAS, LPI.

- H-alpha, Ca-K data: OBSPARIS, UNIGRAZ, ROB, HVAR.

- Modeling of CME evolution: HVAR, UGOE, UNIGRAZ.

4. Progress

Deliverables

D3.1 Energy release through flares and CMEs (LPI)

An event list to study the different energy contributions has been established and special events have been analysed and modeled. Achievement level is 50%.

D3.2 3D CME structure and evolution (UGOE)

Analysis and modeling of about 80 CMEs is in progress. The evolution of a CME has been tracked from Sun to Earth. Achievement level is 20%.

D3.3 Initiation of flares and CMEs(KU Leuven)

Several events have been modeled. Achievement level is 25%.

D3.4 High cadence H-alpha and CaK data (UNIGRAZ)

Engineering of the telescope techniques to achieve the high resolution data is as planned. Achievement level is 20%.

D3.5 SphinX database (SRC-PAS)

Data from the SphinX spectrophotometer aboard Coronas-Photon are collected and archived. The solar activity event lists comprises currently about 60 events. Achievement level is 20%.

D3.6 SPIRIT/TESIS database (LPI)

Data from the TESIS EUV telescope/spectroheliograph aboard Coronas-Photon are collected and archived. Studies of events are already underway. Achievement level is 20%.

D3.7 STEREO database (UGOE)

An archiving system for the STEREO data has been established at the Planetarium Hamburg, including the necessary software to analyse the data for scientific and viualisation purposes. Achievement level is 20%.

D3.8 Proba 2 SWAP and LYRA database (ROB)

The necessary infrastructure for the SWAP and LYRA database is progressing. The launch of Proba 2 has been set for September 2009. Achievement level is 20%.

5. Major problems

Currently none.

6. Minor problems

Allocation of personal is delayed, e.g. announced PhD. positions.

WP4

WP4 is a very interdisciplinary work-package with a wide objective covering the whole chain of processes starting from solar eruptions or coronal holes through interplanetary propagation, Earth arrival and solar wind – magnetosphere and ionosphere interaction to the effect on the Earth upper atmosphere and radiation hazards.

The research activities are divided in five research tasks, tasks 4.1-4.5, performed roughly in parallel. All five tasks have been initiated and are so far progressing as planned.

To take the full advantage of the interdisciplinary setup, combining institutions with very different expertises, an important organizational task for the first six months period has been, however, to coordinate and focus the research activities and initiate collaborations. Two initiatives are noteworthy in this connection:

• A set of space weather relevant focus-parameters have been selected in order to optimize the outcome in a space weather context, and in order facilitate the collaborations: So far the following parameters are selected:

o CME arrival time

o L1 Solar wind parameters

o SEP flux

o Magnetopause location

o Radiation belt flux and Ring Current

o Geomagnetic activity, Dst and Kp

o Auroral oval position

o Ionospheric Joule Heating

o Ionosperic Scintillations

o TEC

• A set of events for detailed study of the whole chain of events from the sun to the ionosphere have been selected and collection and exchange of data for these events has been started. A number of subgroups have been formed related to specific research themes to be investigated using these events. Further, a workshop is being planned in September 2009 dedicated to the event studies.

So far work has been started on 9 of 10 focus parameters and to a large extent in connection with one or more of the selected events.

Problems has so far only been encountered in relationship to a sub-task of task 4.2, namely the subtask to study the effect of radiation on the functioning of space-based instruments. So far it has not been possible to locate anyone in the consortium who has the expertise to undertake such a task. This could most likely be solved by collaboration with partners outside of the consortium, but this solution may require the allocation of additional funding to the activity.

WP5

Work package 5 focuses on solar irradiance and mainly involves the following partners: PMOD-WRC, LPC2E and ROB. Its overall objectives are to make progress in the measurement, reconstruction and prediction of solar spectral irradiance, which is a key input to the terrestrial environment.

WP5 mainly involves two types of activities, which partly build upon existing experience and collaborations

• Model development, with a physical model of the middle atmosphere (PMOD-WRC), and empirical model of the solar UV spectrum (LPC2E) and for the prediction of flares (ROB)
• data analysis, with comparative analyses of solar irradiance data from existing and upcoming satellites

Progress

All activities are on schedule. Two scientists will be hired for the tasks of WP5. The post-doc at PMOD-WRC has already been hired since Nov. 2008 whereas the position at LPC2E is now about to be filled (call is ending in May).

Two significant results are :

• The SOCOL-i middle atmosphere model has been successfully extended to include the impact of solar proton events. A publication by T. Egorova et al. is about to be submitted to Journal of Geophysical Research.
• A publication by T. Dudok de Wit et al. on the comparison of solar UV spectra to various proxies has been accepted in Geophysical Research Letters.

Problems

No problems were encountered except for two minor ones:

• The exploitation of data from CORONAS, PROBA2 and SDO (milestone 5.1) is a now a few months behind schedule because of the delayed launch of PROBA2 and SDO. Both spacecraft, however, are on track. This delay has no significant impact as the analysis continues on existing data.
• The development of the flare prediction model (milestone 5.4) by ROB has been put in standby mode in order to give priority to the development of the document repository and database (see WP6). This is not critical for its delivery, which is scheduled at Month 24.

WP6

WP6 deals with the IT infrastructure required to exchange information and data between the SOTERIA partners.

Progress

• D6.1 Space Weather Document Repository: A document repository has been developed and is in test phase.
• D6.2 Virtual Observatory Action Plan (ROB): An inventory of all the existing data within SOTERIA has been completed. The Virtual Observatory action plan is in preparation.
• D6.3 Online SOTERIA data service via VO (ROB): this work will start-up as soon as D6.2 is completed.
• D6.4 Online publ. VUV and MUV spectrum: This work is in standby. We await for the launch of PROBA2/LYRA, currently scheduled for Sept 9 2009.
• D6.5 Online publ. chemical composition: This work is in standby. We await for the launch of PROBA2/LYRA, currently scheduled for Sept 9 2009.
• D6.6 Capacity building workshop: We concluded to split this event in a) an advanced school in collaboration with COST/ICTP, and b) a SOTERIA specific technical workshop at ROB
• D6.7 Open source solar image viewer: Baseline design has been identified, implementation kicks of when D6.3 is available.
• D6.8 Online event and feature database: In standby till D6.3 is available.
• D6.9 Solar Week & planetarium show

Problems

While significant progress has been made (see above), we are slipping slightly into the schedule (eg M6.1). This is mostly due to start-up problems, such as selecting and hiring people but also identifying points of contact within the consortium, from which we should recover in the coming months.

Financial reporting

For the financial report, please, go to the following link First_Semiannual_Financial_Report