Space Weather Services Operations during COVID -19 Pandemic

Zahra Bouya and Michael Terkildsen
Space Weather Services, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology

AOSWA online, 24 November 2020

Outline- Introduction-Australia COVID-19 situation-Australian Government response to COVID-19-

Australian Bureau of Meteorology(BoM)/ Space WeatherServices(SWS) response to COVID-19-

SWS activities during COVID-19-

Summary and Remarks

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19):-Broke out globally during February 2020

-Became a global pandemic in March 2020 (WHO,2020)-Since March, lockdown has been enforced across the world-First confirmed in Australia in January 2020

-Australia banned all international visitors since 19 March

Australia COVID-19 situation

COVID-19 Summary/ statistics (24 November 2020)

Source: https://www.health.gov.au

Australia COVID-19 situation

COVID-19 cases in Australia

Total number of newly reported cases each day by states and territories andthe cumulative number of confirmed cases (Source: https://www.health.gov.au)

Australian Government response to COVID-19

Government Actions on COVID -19
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee(AHPPC):•Chief Health Officers from each state and territory•Chief Medical Officer•Representatives from key departments.

Key decisions and coordinated responses to the COVID-19 outbreakStates and Territories:
Testing suspected cases
Monitoring close contacts
Travel restrictions
Fever clinics

Australian Government response to COVID-19

Controlling Coronavirus:

Australia’s COVID-19 response have saved lives:
Australia’s success in “controlling” COVID-19 stands out globally
Australia has performed better than many countries in controlling COVID-19

Lockdown measures Extensive testingContact tracing

Border controls

COVID- 19 BOM-SWS response

Australian Government organisation that provides essential services integral to:1- The Australian community safety .
2 - The viability of the Australian economy.
Actions: Consistent with the Australian Public Service (APS)
Guidance: Provided to all Australian Government Agencies

1- Ongoing safety and wellbeing of all staff
2- Ensuring continuity of essential services to the Australian community

COVID- 19 BOM-SWS response

One Bureau approach:- National Incident Management Team (IMT)-Engaging with agencies across the government
Monitoring the coronavirus situation
Developing BOM response plans.
keeping BOM stuff informed about the evolving coronavirus situation and BOM's response

Ensuring continuity of essential services to the Australian community

BOM staff designated as 'Home-based' or 'Essential– Home-based'

SWS Activities during COVID-19 PandemicHome Based Work(HBW) adoption March 2020: (relatively seamless)- Staff transitioned to laptop based workstations (prior to the pandemic )SharePoint, Office 365 and multi factor authentication
In response to the pandemic:-Staff were able to continue working from home with the tools they routinely used in-office.
-Remote access to in-house servers, workstations and applications

A safe workstation at home
-The workstation self-assessment/ checklist- E-learning /training updated and simplified-ICT support-COVID-19 updates ( Evolving situation and BOM's response)

COVID- 19 BOM-SWS response

A connected workplace:-Microsoft Teams and slack communication platforms.
Offering screen sharing, files sharing and videoconferencing-CMR system for videoconferencing

Daily check-in : Staff and their supervisors/managers

Health and work tasks.
- Confidential counselling and support services- Employee Assistance Program (EPA) (remote counselling services)

SWS Activities during COVID-19 Pandemic

SWS critical operations at the Australian Space Forecast centre (ASFC):SWS forecasters and support staff were categorised as "Home based –Essential"-Could attend the office during lockdown, but only when required-Forecasting from home (on weekends) was already a routine activity (prior the pandemic).

-Home based forecast (relatively straightforward)-Remote access to in-house servers, workstations and applications that support SW forecasting.
Services and reports output were uninterrupted:-Clear procedures and these are maintained- Written Communication procedures-Backup forecaster roster created- Communications channel

SWS Activities during COVID-19 Pandemic

SWS critical operations at the Australian Space Forecast centre (ASFC)
Space weather services for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO):
Australia Canada France Japan (ACFJ) consortium is On Duty Centre (ODC)-forecasters are required to attend the Sydney office
A safe place to work
- Social Distancing- Good hygiene practices-Cleaning-Masks for on duty forecaster

SWS Activities during COVID-19 Pandemic

Some issues: Challenges to HWB-Transition to remote working is uneven- Productivity effects are also uneven-New and previously unused technology such as MS Teams- Organise equipment for HBW and make documentation available on new platforms.

-Communication procedures needed to be written-There were occasions when MS Teams failed.

-Home networks did cause some issues early on.

- Concern continue for personal safety when on public transport (when ACFJ is ODC).
- Refit during the pandemic:- The move to level 16 and back to level 15 during the pandemic( Without major issues)- Power outage on 15 August when ACFJ ODC (was relatively seamless)Summary and Remarks

Australia has performed better than many countries in controlling COVID19:- Attributed to a combination of lockdown measures, extensive testing, contact tracing and border controls.
-These measures carry with them substantial social and economic harms (the scale of the loss of life avoided).
- Impact of border responses due to our geography (more difficult for other countries).
-The lockdown measure: The sooner you do it, the better in terms of how quickly you can then come out of it.

COVID 19 BOM-SWS actions:
Entirely consistent with the rest of the APS and the guidance provided to all Australian Government Agencies.
One Bureau approach:
Focused on keeping staff safe and healthy while at the same time continuing to provide essential services to theAustralian community- To date we have been fortunate that no Bureau staff member has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

Acknowledgment

We have continued to demonstrate our ability to deliver critical services with impact and value underwhat are unusual and challenging circumstances.
My sincere thanks to:
Lianne Grant (ASFC acting Manager)
Senior/ Space Weather Forecasters-Colin Yulie (Operations Manager )Operations Team.
- Incident and Crisis Management Teams:
CMT and IMT-Everyone from across the Bureau who have been involved.

Thank you all for your ongoing hard work, continued dedication, patience and flexibility during thischallenging period.