There is considerable scientific intertwining between meteorology, climate, Space Weather and Space Climate. A clear example is the coupling between the lower and middle atmosphere (troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere) and the thermosphere and ionosphere, which increasingly is being studied using weather and climate models which have been extended upwards into the thermosphere. Such models are useful in analysing Space Weather and solar variability impacts on seasonal forecasts and surface climate.

Space Weather refers to the change in environmental conditions between the Sun and the Earth, mostly due to the Sun's emissions. The Sun's activity changes over the 11 year solar cycle, with variations in sunspot number, radiation levels and eruptions. Space weather can impact on space- and ground-based systems, power grids, communications and human health. As our lives become ever more dependent on technology, our understanding and forecasting of Space Weather, and the provision of data and services, becomes more important.

Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) data assimilation methods are being applied to Space Weather problems. Such connections mean that meteorological research institutes and National Meteorological Centres (NMCs) are very well suited to applying their expertise to relevant Space Weather and Space Climate research programmes and to the delivery of operational Space Weather services. This is underlined by the fact that the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has been fostering the identification and integration of best practices from operational NWP systems to operational Space Weather systems.

The aim of this session is to provide a framework for reviewing these state-of-the-art topics, ranging from the underpinning science of interactions between weather, climate and space phenomena to delivery of operational Space Weather services and products.
Authors are invited to submit abstracts dealing with one or more of the following topics:
▪ Direct and indirect impacts of Space Weather and solar variability on weather forecasts and Earth's climate.
▪ Weather and climate models including the MLT region (Mesosphere - Lower Thermosphere).
▪ Data assimilation methods and observational needs for Space Weather applications.
▪ Application of operational NWP infrastructures and methodologies to deliver operational Space Weather products.
▪ Coordination and/or organisation of Space Weather services together with weather infrastructures.