「宇宙天気予報士」創設を　太陽活動の予測強化提言―総務省

　総務省の有識者会議は１０日、太陽の表面で突発的に起きる爆発現象（フレア）が地球上の通信や電子機器に与える影響などについて、観測・予測を強化するよう求める報告書案をまとめた。宇宙の天気を分かりやすく説明できる人材を確保するため、民間資格「宇宙天気予報士」の創設を提言した。
　報告書案は、１００年に１回の大規模なフレアが起きた場合、甚大な被害が生じかねないと強調。電磁波などの影響で、昼間に携帯電話が断続的に使えなくなるほか、全地球測位システム（ＧＰＳ）の精度が劣化して自動運転のドローンが事故を起こす恐れがあると警鐘を鳴らした。（2022/05/10-16:11）

A Japanese government panel Tuesday proposed the establishment of private-sector certification for the profession "space weather forecaster" to monitor and predict the effects of solar flares on communications and electronics.
   In a draft report, the internal affairs ministry panel of experts warned that a once-in-a-century massive flare may cause enormous damage through electromagnetic waves.
   Specifically, mobile phones may become intermittently unusable during the daytime, and expected disruptions to the Global Positioning System may trigger accidents of automated drones, the panel said.
   Noting that such risks are not sufficiently understood in the business world, the panel called for a system in which space weather forecasters with expert knowledge can help improve preparedness for such situations.
   The report also urged the government to set up an organization specializing in space weather forecasting in a state-linked research institution.