Late Eighteenth Century diagram of the winds, polar regions, and aurora.

Late Nineteenth Century map showing extent of observation of Aurora Borealis.

Image of sun showing various types of solar phenomena.

Computer generated image of Earth's magnetic field looking down on the North Polar region. Regions of high intensity correlate with regions of auroral activity.

Auroral spectrum lines as compared to solar spectrum continuum.

While the Sun can look like the slightly spotted ball that Galileo saw, in soft x-rays it looks far more dynamic. Here can be seen coronal holes (dark) and mass ejections (light) concentrated at the middle latitudes.

Telescope and Technician. Watching the Sun is both a metaphor for what SEC does and a reality. The telescope in the Boulder Observatory is only one of many imaging systems that are used in solar monitoring done in the Operations center.

This Air Force personnel is a forecaster at the Space Weather Operations, and provides analysis of the space environment, synthesis of the many information types, and forecasts the space weather for the next 24-hours.

A solar technician on the phone. The Solar Technicians who staff the Forecast Center are responsible for keeping a watchful eye on the many data channels coming into the center, and for alerting customers of impending storms.

The Aurora from the Shuttle - Lucky viewers of the aurora sometimes wonder what they look like from above, not just from below. Here is what the astronauts see out of the Shuttle bay.

From the moment a Shuttle lifts off, SEC is on constant alert to inform NASA of any expected solar radiation that could harm the astronauts. Should it be necessary, astronauts are kept inside the Shuttle and in the most shielded part if necessary to avoid that radiation.

Melted Transformer. If geomagnetic storms seem not very noticeable, they certainly get the attention of the power industry. Here a $10 M transformer was overloaded and melted with induced currents caused by solar activity.

The Space Environment. This is a map of the space environment, although greatly foreshortened. The 93 million miles between Sun and Earth is sacrificed to show ejections from the Sun, which hit the sweeping "Magnetopause" at the front edge of the Magnetosphere. The Earth, half in shadow, is surrounded by the Van Allen Radiation Belts (orange) and the magnetosphere. The Milky Way stars are visible.

A signature image for SEC, taken from the Boulder Observatory telescope of an enterprising SEC staffer and the Sun setting behind the Flatirons mountains in Boulder. The Sun has a nice amount of activity, visible with the H-alpha filter.

Forecast Center. Operated round the clock, the number of staff in the center varies with the activity. A big storm will see many of SEC staff in the center, keeping apprised of the conditions and answering the many calls received.

Blow up of sun image on title page of "De thermis Andreae Baccii Elpidiani, civis Romani ...." by Andrea Bacci, published posthumously in 1622. Library Call Number QC253 .B32 1622.

Geographical distribution of auroras in the northern hemisphere. Figure 76 in: "A Treatise on Meteorology" by Elias Loomis, 1880. P. 187. Library Call Number QC861 .L66 1880.

Weather kites were used to bring recording instruments to high levels Temperature, pressure, humidity and winds were observed from kites

Exploring the upper air with a weather box kite Kite released at Drexel Aerological Station Continuously read temperature, wind velocity, pressure, altitude, and time In: "The Boy with the U.S. Weather Men", 1917, p. 172.

A kite equipped for meteorological observations Figure 18 of "Meteorology" by Willis Milham, 1912 Time, pressure, temperature, and humidity were recorded Recording instrument was a Marvin Meteorograph

Kite operations at an aerological station

A balloon equipped for meteorological observations Figure 17 of "Meteorology" by Willis Milham, 1912 A German balloon ascent in the late 1800's

Army Air Force meteorologists prepare to launch hydrogen-filled balloon Balloon transported radiosonde that transmitted back to station Radiosonde measured temperature, humidity, and pressure This instrument was used up until just before the end of WWII Iceland post important for shipping and forecasting for European operations

Early testing of hydrogen filled balloons for radiosonde measurements Theodolite used to track balloon to limit of visibility

Early balloon and radiosonde launch "Radiometeorograph" or radiosonde as it became known, below launcher's hand

Early launch of radiosonde developed by U.S. Bureau of Standards Launch preparations at Washington Airport blimp hangar

Kite and balloon stations in the United States

Diagram of kite field at Ellendale Aerological Station

Diagram of kite field at Ellendale Aerological Station

Kites were flown and secured by means of thin steel piano-wire

The kite houses were mounted on turntables This allowed turning with wind to facilitate kite launching

Note meteorograph for upper air measurements mounted on kite

Getting ready to launch a Weather Bureau kite

Different size kites for different altitudes

Launching a pilot balloon Women's first opportunities in meteorology occurred as a result of WWII

Launching a pilot balloon Women's first opportunities in meteorology occurred as a result of WWII

Launching a pilot balloon during strong winds at St. Louis Airport Women's first opportunities in meteorology occurred as a result of WWII

Tracking pilot balloon with theodolite Women's first opportunities in meteorology occurred as a result of WWII

Inflating a pilot balloon Women's first opportunities in meteorology occurred as a result of WWII

Launching and preparing to track a pilot balloon from a Coast Guard vessel

Preparing to launch a pilot balloon Women's first opportunities in meteorology occurred as a result of WWII

Preparing to launch a manned balloon The Weather Service provided information for National Balloon races

Preparing to launch a balloon on an oceanographic ship

High altitude balloon on its way

Balloon for radiosonde

Launching a balloon in Antarctica

Preparing a balloon for launch

Balloon on its way up

Beginning of a pilot-balloon run at Fort Omaha, Nebraska. In: Monthly Weather Review, April 1919, p. 205.

Making a reading at the end of the first minute of a pilot-balloon run. In: Monthly Weather Review, April 1919, p. 205.