Lancaster University Develops First New Weather Monitor For 40 Years in the UK

Lancaster University has developed the first new weather monitor in the UK in Cornwall. The design was created by the School of Engineering, in collaboration with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and Mirion Technologies (Canberra UK) Ltd. 

The weather monitor joins a network of 45 similar sensors that are used to monitor the changes of neutrons on the Earth’s surface to track space weather. There is another, smaller monitor, which will be based at Lancaster University.

Principal Investigator Michael Aspinall said: “This project marks a major milestone for the UK in advancing our space weather monitoring capabilities-something crucial for safeguarding modern infrastructure and daily life.

“Bringing this neutron monitor online in collaboration with the Met Office and other international partners adopting our design strengthens global resilience to space weather risks by providing real-time data and new measurement capabilities. With our new design for an instrument that has not fundamentally changed in six decades, we’re not just building on the past-we’re setting new standards for the future of neutron monitoring.

This monitor has been designed to look for spikes in the neutrons which are known as GLEs or Ground Level Enhancements, which indicate solar radiation storms. The capability to monitor these can validate existing forecasting methods. 

Met Office Space Weather Manager Simon Machin spoke about the new innovation: “The new UK-based neutron monitor will enhance global monitoring of space weather events and will be an important part of our ongoing space weather forecasting and validating service.

Storms can cause huge problems here on Earth, posing a risk to things like satellites and aviation, as well as electronics on the ground. Being able to monitor can provide warning of these potential impacts. 

The new weather monitor was funded by the UK Science and Technologies Facilities Council under the Space Weather Instrumentation, Measurement, Modelling and Risk (SWIMMR) programme and the Senior Programme Manager, Professor Ian McCrea, also welcomed the news: “This new monitor will be welcomed by experts across the space weather community, including here at RAL Space. The monitor will support the SWIMMR programme‘s goals to advance the UK’s space weather monitoring and prediction capabilities.

There is an economic benefit to all of this, and a recent Value Report indicated that the Met Office’s space weather capability may be worth up to £800 million to the UK over the next decade.