EUHFORIA Online: Space Weather Forecasting App
EUHFORIA Online is a web application that makes the EUropean Heliospheric FORecasting Information Asset (EUHFORIA) accessible from any device, without requiring users to install or configure the simulation code on high-performance computing systems. EUHFORIA itself is a magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model designed to simulate the solar wind, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and the heliospheric environment to forecast space weather.
The platform’s primary audience includes professional forecasters, researchers, and students. By providing a clean, browser-based interface, EUHFORIA Online enables users to run simulations, explore results, and download raw model outputs with minimal setup effort.
Development Approach
Rays of Space led the technical development of EUHFORIA Online, focusing on performance, accessibility, and portability.
Upgrading and Containerising the Codebase
We modernised the EUHFORIA codebase and packaged it in a container with full HPC support. This allowed us to create automated installation workflows that deploy EUHFORIA quickly into any compatible HPC environment.
Designing an Accessible Interface
The web interface was built for users with varying levels of expertise. Experienced space weather researchers can customise runs to their specifications, while students and newcomers can execute standard configurations to learn about space weather modelling. All simulations and their outputs are accessible directly in the browser, with the option to download complete datasets for further analysis.
Ensuring Scalability and Reliability
EUHFORIA Online’s runtime currently operates on the Vlaanderen supercomputer, which processes user-submitted jobs efficiently. The architecture is designed to be portable, making it straightforward to migrate the deployment to other HPC infrastructures if needed.
Impact
EUHFORIA Online reduces the technical barriers to using one of Europe’s most advanced heliospheric simulation codes. It supports research by enabling rapid experimentation and scenario testing, and it provides a valuable educational platform for training the next generation of space weather scientists.
By making EUHFORIA’s capabilities accessible beyond specialised HPC operators, the platform helps broaden participation in space weather research and forecasting, supporting both scientific progress and operational readiness in industries affected by solar activity.
