Towards a global system for naming space storms

A global, standardized system for reporting space storms such as geomagnetic storms, drawing on existing approaches in meteorology, astronomy, and geography, is proposed in an article published in the journal Perspectives of Earth and Space Scientists. This article is the result of international research in which Italy is represented through the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. In a world increasingly threatened by space weather events, having a shared system for naming what happens is essential for clearly communicating risks and making complex phenomena more understandable and recognizable .

"Our society is vulnerable to the effects of space weather, but most people aren't aware of what it is or how much it can impact our daily lives," says Luca Spogli of the INGV, co-author of the study. " Naming space storms might seem like a minor detail, but," he adds, "it's a crucial step toward more effective communication , reducing ambiguity , and improving public preparedness."

Space weather is recognized as a major global threat , yet communication about these events is often limited to a specialized audience , and in the past, only a few notable events have been named, though these have been assigned without shared criteria. For this reason, the researchers propose the creation of a working group to define criteria for naming storms, such as thresholds for intensity, duration, and expected impact .

"Everyone remembers names like Hurricane Katrina: a name makes the event memorable, tangible," Spogli continues, "and easier to follow in the news and on social media. This approach, however, must be handled with cultural sensitivity, avoiding alarmist or inappropriate names."