Halloween Storm Simulations with the Space Weather Modeling Framework

In late October and early November 2003 a series of some of the most powerful solar eruptions ever registered shook the heliosphere. These “Halloween storms” damaged 28 satellites, knocking two out of commission, diverted airplane routes and caused power failures in Sweden, among other problems. Long-distance radio communications were disrupted because of the effects on the ionosphere, and northern lights (aurora borealis) were seen as far south as Florida. This paper presents preliminary results of our simulations of the largest solar storm period in recent history, the Halloween storms. These simulation were made possible by the newly developed Space Weather Modeling Framework and by the computing power of NASA’s Columbia system.