NASA and IBM have collaborated to develop Surya, an open-source AI model designed to predict solar storms and enhance space weather forecasting. This innovative model leverages nine years of high-resolution solar observation data from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory to forecast solar activity and its impact on Earth and space-based technologies.
Surya demonstrates a 16% improvement in solar flare classification accuracy compared to traditional methods and can predict solar flares up to two hours in advance. The model can visually identify where solar flares are likely to occur on the Sun's surface, providing critical information for protecting satellites, power grids, GPS systems, and telecommunications infrastructure.
By providing early warnings of solar storms, Surya can help mitigate the significant economic losses that can result from damage to these systems. According to a study by Lloyd's, a severe solar storm could result in losses of up to $2.4 trillion to the global economy over a five-year period.
NASA and IBM plan to further refine Surya to enhance its predictive capabilities and explore longer lead time predictions. The model has the potential to benefit various industries, including aviation, agriculture, and telecommunications, by providing more accurate and reliable solar weather forecasts.
