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The paper investigates the capability of geomagnetic storm parameters in the disturbance storm-time (Dst), Kp, and AE indices to distinguish between severe space weather (SvSW) that causes the reported electric power outages and/or telecommunication failures and normal space weather (NSW) that does not cause these severe effects in a 50 yr period (1958–2007). The parameters include the storm intensities DstMin (minimum Dst during the main phase, MP, of the storm), (dDst/dt)MPmax, Kpmax, and AEmax. In addition, the impulsive parameter is derived for the storms that are automatically identified in the Kyoto Dst and USGS is the integral of the modulus of the Dst from onset of the MP (MPO) to the DstMin. TMP is the MP duration from MPO to DstMin. The corresponding mean values and are also calculated. Regardless of the significant differences in the storm parameters between the two Dst indices, the IpsDst in both indices seems to identify four of the five SvSW events (and the Carrington event) in more than 750 NSW events that have been reported to have occurred in 1958–2007, while all other parameters separate one or two SvSWs from the NSWs. Using the Kyoto IpsDst threshold of −250 nT, we demonstrate a 100% true SvSW identification rate with only one false NSW. Using the false NSW event (1972 August 4), we investigate whether using a higher resolution Dst might result in a more accurate identification of SvSWs. The mechanism of the impulsive action leading to large IpsDst and SvSW involves the coincidence that the fast interplanetary coronal mass ejection velocity V contains its shock (or front) velocity and large interplanetary magnetic field Bz southward covering . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Van Allen Probes mission operations materialized through a distributed model in which operational responsibility was divided between the Mission Operations Center (MOC) and separate instrument specific SOCs. The sole MOC handled all aspects of telemetering and receiving tasks as well as certain scientifically relevant ancillary tasks. Each instrument science team developed individual instrument specific SOCs proficient in unique capabilities in support of science data acquisition, data processing, instrument performance, and tools for the instrument team scientists. In parallel activities, project scientists took on the task of providing a significant modeling tool base usable by the instrument science teams and the larger scientific community. With a mission as complex as Van Allen Probes, scientific inquiry occurred due to constant and significant collaboration between the SOCs and in concert with the project science team. Planned cross-instrument coordinated observations resulted in critical discoveries during the seven-year mission. Instrument cross-calibration activities elucidated a more seamless set of data products. Specific topics include post-launch changes and enhancements to the SOCs, discussion of coordination activities between the SOCs, SOC specific analysis software, modeling software provided by the Van Allen Probes project, and a section on lessons learned. One of the most significant lessons learned was the importance of the original decision to implement individual team SOCs providing timely and well-documented instrument data for the NASA Van Allen Probes Mission scientists and the larger magnetospheric and radiation belt scientific community., (© The Author(s) 2022.)