Ben Clewer
@benclewer.bsky.social
Space Weather Research Fellow at Surrey Space Centre.
Aviation radiation safety. Instrument systems engineering.
Hobby wargamer and Ipswich Town #itfc fan. He/Him. PhD
Aviation radiation safety. Instrument systems engineering.
Hobby wargamer and Ipswich Town #itfc fan. He/Him. PhD
This week has been a tough week, trying to communicate about an important space weather topic (the Airbus incident), through all the noise of instant arm chair experts.
Especially those claiming about poor communication and then go spurting rubbish themselves.
One can only do so much, but we try.
Especially those claiming about poor communication and then go spurting rubbish themselves.
One can only do so much, but we try.
December 5, 2025 at 10:45 PM
This week has been a tough week, trying to communicate about an important space weather topic (the Airbus incident), through all the noise of instant arm chair experts.
Especially those claiming about poor communication and then go spurting rubbish themselves.
One can only do so much, but we try.
Especially those claiming about poor communication and then go spurting rubbish themselves.
One can only do so much, but we try.
Reposted by Ben Clewer
NEW: I just wrote up an explainer for the BBC about Airbus's recall of 6,000 aircraft late last week - after a malfunction caused by space radiation.
Includes some detail on why this extraordinary phenomenon can happen and why we need to prepare for it more.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Includes some detail on why this extraordinary phenomenon can happen and why we need to prepare for it more.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
December 1, 2025 at 4:02 PM
NEW: I just wrote up an explainer for the BBC about Airbus's recall of 6,000 aircraft late last week - after a malfunction caused by space radiation.
Includes some detail on why this extraordinary phenomenon can happen and why we need to prepare for it more.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Includes some detail on why this extraordinary phenomenon can happen and why we need to prepare for it more.
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
We have released our expert comment from our research group on the recent Airbus event
Expert comment: Airbus A320 recall and solar radiation | University of Surrey
www.surrey.ac.uk
November 29, 2025 at 3:48 PM
We have released our expert comment from our research group on the recent Airbus event
Reposted by Ben Clewer
EASA issues Emergency Airworthiness Directive for Airbus A320 family aircraft Elevator aileron computers (ELAC). ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2025-0268-E
November 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
EASA issues Emergency Airworthiness Directive for Airbus A320 family aircraft Elevator aileron computers (ELAC). ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2025-0268-E
People might start believing us when we say solar radiation could have huge impacts to aircraft avionics!
#spaceweather #avgeek #aviation
BBC News - Airbus requests immediate modifications to thousands of aircraft
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#spaceweather #avgeek #aviation
BBC News - Airbus requests immediate modifications to thousands of aircraft
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Airbus requests immediate modifications to thousands of aircraft
About 6,000 plans are thought to be affected, about half the European aerospace giant's global fleet.
www.bbc.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:59 PM
People might start believing us when we say solar radiation could have huge impacts to aircraft avionics!
#spaceweather #avgeek #aviation
BBC News - Airbus requests immediate modifications to thousands of aircraft
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#spaceweather #avgeek #aviation
BBC News - Airbus requests immediate modifications to thousands of aircraft
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Ben Clewer
World-first radiation data through Earth’s lower atmosphere has been collected in a collaboration between the Met Office, @uniofsurrey.bsky.social and @knmi.nl.
Find out more in our blog 👇
www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2025/wo...
Find out more in our blog 👇
www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2025/wo...
November 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
World-first radiation data through Earth’s lower atmosphere has been collected in a collaboration between the Met Office, @uniofsurrey.bsky.social and @knmi.nl.
Find out more in our blog 👇
www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2025/wo...
Find out more in our blog 👇
www.metoffice.gov.uk/blog/2025/wo...
I conducted an interview for Reuters last week on our recent atmospheric radiation instruments, fitted to weather balloon radiosondes. You can find the video link below - This is the first time solar radiation storm data has been collected through the entire depth of the atmosphere!
#spaceweather
#spaceweather
How balloon-borne sensors are giving new insights into space weather
<body><p>STORY: In our world of planes, internet domains and driverless automobiles, space weather has the potential to wreak havoc.</p><p>And that's why scientists at the University of Surrey's Space...
au.news.yahoo.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I conducted an interview for Reuters last week on our recent atmospheric radiation instruments, fitted to weather balloon radiosondes. You can find the video link below - This is the first time solar radiation storm data has been collected through the entire depth of the atmosphere!
#spaceweather
#spaceweather
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
Guess, I'll be okay!
Guess, I'll be okay!
November 25, 2025 at 8:16 PM
You’ve been kidnapped. The characters from the last TV show you watched are trying to rescue you. Who’s coming to save you?
Guess, I'll be okay!
Guess, I'll be okay!
Ongoing solar radiation storm originating at 10:15 this morning. Initial airborne data and model results are indicating this was an ICAO severe radiation event for aviation.
Airborne instruments are still operating to collect the end of the event
#spaceweather #aviation #avgeek
Airborne instruments are still operating to collect the end of the event
#spaceweather #aviation #avgeek
November 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Ongoing solar radiation storm originating at 10:15 this morning. Initial airborne data and model results are indicating this was an ICAO severe radiation event for aviation.
Airborne instruments are still operating to collect the end of the event
#spaceweather #aviation #avgeek
Airborne instruments are still operating to collect the end of the event
#spaceweather #aviation #avgeek
I hope everyone at #ESWW2025 has a lovely time. Sadly the travel was too prohibitive for us at Surrey for the limited sessions related to our area.
Enjoy the scenery and I hope the aurora shows up!
Enjoy the scenery and I hope the aurora shows up!
October 27, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I hope everyone at #ESWW2025 has a lovely time. Sadly the travel was too prohibitive for us at Surrey for the limited sessions related to our area.
Enjoy the scenery and I hope the aurora shows up!
Enjoy the scenery and I hope the aurora shows up!
Safe to say that the AI spaghetti detection still needs work for my printer...
September 21, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Safe to say that the AI spaghetti detection still needs work for my printer...
Sadly this feels like a backwards step for space in the UK. Just as the rest of the world is pushing on, the UK again halts itself. Black arrow history repeating again...
BBC News - UK independent space agency scrapped to cut costs
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - UK independent space agency scrapped to cut costs
www.bbc.com/news/article...
UK independent space agency scrapped to cut costs
Britain's space agency is set to be scrapped - a scientist fears the UK space sector could fall behind as a result
www.bbc.com
August 20, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Sadly this feels like a backwards step for space in the UK. Just as the rest of the world is pushing on, the UK again halts itself. Black arrow history repeating again...
BBC News - UK independent space agency scrapped to cut costs
www.bbc.com/news/article...
BBC News - UK independent space agency scrapped to cut costs
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Not much to share at the moment, but lots going on project wise behind the scenes. However, I thought the internet might enjoy these two adorable pups who keep me on my toes at home.
July 10, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Not much to share at the moment, but lots going on project wise behind the scenes. However, I thought the internet might enjoy these two adorable pups who keep me on my toes at home.
Currently on what is becoming a regular trip to CERN to test our SAIRA atmospheric radiation instruments in the beam facilities here. They give a representative of the enhanced radiation environment that aircraft would see in large solar radiation storms.
#spaceweather #avgeek #radiationprotection
#spaceweather #avgeek #radiationprotection
May 24, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Currently on what is becoming a regular trip to CERN to test our SAIRA atmospheric radiation instruments in the beam facilities here. They give a representative of the enhanced radiation environment that aircraft would see in large solar radiation storms.
#spaceweather #avgeek #radiationprotection
#spaceweather #avgeek #radiationprotection
Last week I had the fun of travelling to Shetland to install a new compact neuton monitor at the @metoffice.bsky.social site in Lerwick. This monitor will be essential to the UK's #spaceweather resilience as it'll provide important radiation flux data to #aviation and ground based infrastructure
April 29, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Last week I had the fun of travelling to Shetland to install a new compact neuton monitor at the @metoffice.bsky.social site in Lerwick. This monitor will be essential to the UK's #spaceweather resilience as it'll provide important radiation flux data to #aviation and ground based infrastructure
2nd leg of the journey to Lerwick and a nice little ATR42 this time.
Going up to install a Neutron Monitor at the @metoffice.bsky.social weather station
Going up to install a Neutron Monitor at the @metoffice.bsky.social weather station
April 22, 2025 at 3:36 PM
2nd leg of the journey to Lerwick and a nice little ATR42 this time.
Going up to install a Neutron Monitor at the @metoffice.bsky.social weather station
Going up to install a Neutron Monitor at the @metoffice.bsky.social weather station
Had a day for me today at #Salute52
It was great to get back to gaming and shows after a few years away. Had fun smashing some Roman Legions in Strength and Honour and bought way too much paint...
#wargaming
It was great to get back to gaming and shows after a few years away. Had fun smashing some Roman Legions in Strength and Honour and bought way too much paint...
#wargaming
April 12, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Had a day for me today at #Salute52
It was great to get back to gaming and shows after a few years away. Had fun smashing some Roman Legions in Strength and Honour and bought way too much paint...
#wargaming
It was great to get back to gaming and shows after a few years away. Had fun smashing some Roman Legions in Strength and Honour and bought way too much paint...
#wargaming
Reposted by Ben Clewer
The SpaceX fram2 mission that will send humans over the poles for the first time has LAUNCHED! This is relevant to our community since Jannicke Mikkelsen, one of the astronauts on board, will be filming the aurora over the north and south poles!
#heliophysics
#heliophysics
April 1, 2025 at 4:36 AM
The SpaceX fram2 mission that will send humans over the poles for the first time has LAUNCHED! This is relevant to our community since Jannicke Mikkelsen, one of the astronauts on board, will be filming the aurora over the north and south poles!
#heliophysics
#heliophysics
Reposted by Ben Clewer
BOOM! What a beautiful #SolarFlare (just now). This eruptive event reached the X-class level, and produced this stunning coronal mass ejection. The flare source region will rotate to face Earth in the coming week. Further strong solar activity is likely! #spaceweather
March 28, 2025 at 3:56 PM
BOOM! What a beautiful #SolarFlare (just now). This eruptive event reached the X-class level, and produced this stunning coronal mass ejection. The flare source region will rotate to face Earth in the coming week. Further strong solar activity is likely! #spaceweather
Last week at the US Space Weather Workshop, I handed over a balloon SAIRA instrument to from the Surrey Space Centre to @knmi.bsky.social
It's excellent to see growing international interest in our instruments and space weather radiation measuring capabilities.
#spaceweather #radiationprotection
It's excellent to see growing international interest in our instruments and space weather radiation measuring capabilities.
#spaceweather #radiationprotection
March 26, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Last week at the US Space Weather Workshop, I handed over a balloon SAIRA instrument to from the Surrey Space Centre to @knmi.bsky.social
It's excellent to see growing international interest in our instruments and space weather radiation measuring capabilities.
#spaceweather #radiationprotection
It's excellent to see growing international interest in our instruments and space weather radiation measuring capabilities.
#spaceweather #radiationprotection
Reposted by Ben Clewer
There are 3 space-weather posts opening up at the UK Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre. Please circulate - it would be great to further strengthen the MOSWOC team.
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
Met Office Careers
careers.metoffice.gov.uk
March 25, 2025 at 9:12 AM
There are 3 space-weather posts opening up at the UK Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre. Please circulate - it would be great to further strengthen the MOSWOC team.
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
careers.metoffice.gov.uk/join-us/sear...
March 22, 2025 at 10:24 AM