Project Grant 2149748

This $314,692 National Science Foundation award under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) will fund collaborative research between Rutgers University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, West Virginia University, and Montclair State University to develop machine learning tools and models for predicting geoeffective solar eruptions, geomagnetic indices, and thermospheric density fluctuations. Key products and services include synthesizing vector magnetograms from ground- and space-based solar observation data for Cycles 23-24; creating machine learning models to predict solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and their geomagnetic impacts based on magnetogram parameters and solar wind data; and developing methods to forecast neutral thermospheric density variations incorporating satellite data and geomagnetic activity forecasts. Most of the funding will support three graduate students and one postdoctoral fellow conducting research across the participating institutions. Montclair State University will organize related K-12 teacher workshops. This award advances national capabilities in solar-terrestrial physics and builds expertise in applying data science techniques to space weather prediction challenges.