CEDAR email: Invitation to ESWW TDM on Radio Frequency Protection

[David Jackson]

OFFICIAL

We would like to invite all participants of ESWW 2024 to join the Topical Discussion Meeting 11: Radio Frequency Protection on Wednesday 6th November 2024 at 14:15-15:15

Radio frequency (RF) spectrum protection is important and is already applied across many activities where safeguarding of observations or communications is required to carry out operational activities effectively. Space weather sensors that use the radio spectrum currently do not have any regulatory protection. This is a critical omission, given that operational space weather services rely heavily on observations made in different parts of the radio spectrum.

Global coordination of spectrum use is organised internationally by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU Radio Regulations (RRs) specify the allocation of different services to specific frequency bands and the associated technical criteria and regulatory conditions, as well as, when needed, procedures for international coordination to avoid or mitigate interference issues beyond national borders. The RRs are updated about every four years at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC). Excellent progress was made at the recent WRC-2023 which provided space weather with an initial recognition in the RRs, although no frequency bands have yet been allocated to the new service. It was agreed to further study 6 selected bands (mostly used for riometers and solar flux measurements), potentially leading to approval of allocations and associated protection criteria at WRC-2027.

For many people involved in space weather, this work is progressing slowly and even under the radar. Thus, the first aim of the TDM is to inform attendees at ESWW about the RF protection work and to seek their feedback. A further aim is to engage the community in assisting in the studies that are required to be performed leading up to WRC-2027, and in gaining support of national radiocommunication authorities for the intended allocations. In order to make progress, the bands selected for such studies are limited in number, cover quite narrow frequency bands, concern passive rather than active sensors, and are restricted to instruments already widely used in operational space weather activities. Regulation of the 6 selected bands may not be sufficient to fully protect these activities, and therefore a final aim of the TDM shall be to discuss how space weather RF protection may be extended to other instruments and bands beyond WRC-2027.

The session will include a presentation focusing on the scientific background (what RF-based instruments are used for space weather and why), details of the ITU RF protection process and status,  and details of how the World Meteorological Organisation is involved in advising on and advocating for RF protection. The subsequent discussion offers an opportunity to provide feedback on the RF protection work done so far and to discuss how to get involved in assisting RF protection studies both leading up to and beyond WRC-2027.

Best regards,

Jesse Andries, David Jackson, Nicole Vilmer
TDM Convenors

Professor David Jackson     Met Office Fellow
Met Office FitzRoy Road  Exeter Devon EX1 3PB  United Kingdom
Tel. : +44 (0)330 135 0639              Fax. : +44 (0)1392 885681
email: david.jackson at metoffice.gov.uk<mailto:david.jackson at metoffice.gov.uk> Website:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/
My pronouns are he/his/him

Note: I normally only work Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays



OFFICIAL
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