EUHFORIA: MHD Code For Space Weather Simulations
EUHFORIA is a large-scale computational model that predicts how the solar wind and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) travel from the Sun through the heliosphere. Developed by an international team led by KU Leuven and supported by research partners across Europe, it transforms observational data into actionable forecasts that help space agencies, operators, and infrastructure managers prepare for solar-driven disturbances.
The model is built on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations, using solar wind boundary conditions derived from remote-sensing data of the Sun. It couples these background solar wind models with CME propagation tools, allowing it to reproduce the path and evolution of plasma clouds and their embedded magnetic fields as they move from the corona into interplanetary space. By simulating CME-driven shocks and their interactions with the ambient wind, EUHFORIA can deliver accurate estimates of both arrival time and impact strength at Earth or other points in the inner heliosphere.
Beyond research use, EUHFORIA underpins operational European space weather services. It is integrated into ESA’s Virtual Space Weather Modelling Centre (VSWMC) and feeds forecasts into the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) infrastructure. The model has been tested extensively against in-situ spacecraft measurements and has been adapted for near real-time runs on high-performance computing clusters.
At Rays of Space, we ensure that EUHFORIA operates at the scale and speed required for real forecasting. This includes deploying it on distributed HPC systems such as the Flemish Vlaanderen Supercomputer, containerizing it for portability, and optimizing the code for stability and numerical precision. We collaborate closely with KU Leuven to refine its algorithms, reduce computational load, and improve predictive accuracy. We also integrate new CME representations, including our in-house FRi3D flux rope model, to capture the magnetic structure of eruptions more realistically.
To make the system widely accessible, we developed EUHFORIA Online (euhforiaonline.com), a browser-based platform that allows scientists, operators, and policy-makers to configure runs, visualize outputs, and download raw simulation data without local installation.
Reliable forecasting of solar storms is not just a scientific milestone - it’s a practical necessity. For satellites, it can mean avoiding damage by adjusting orientation or shutting down vulnerable systems. For aviation, it can mean rerouting flights to protect passengers from radiation exposure. For grid operators, it provides lead time to prepare for geomagnetic disturbances. For human spaceflight, it is a matter of shielding crews from harmful radiation.
EUHFORIA continues to evolve. Upcoming developments include better representation of CME–solar wind interactions, higher-resolution coronal boundary inputs, and tighter coupling with complementary space weather models. Each step brings us closer to forecasting space weather with the same confidence we expect from terrestrial weather prediction - reducing risk and enabling safer operations across the space sector.
