This paper is the primary deliverable of the very first NASA Living With a Star Institute Working Group, Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC) Working Group. The paper provides a broad overview of the current status and future challenges pertaining to the science, engineering, and applications of the GIC problem. Science is understood here as the basic space and Earth sciences research that allows improved understanding and physics‐based modeling of the physical processes behind GIC. Engineering, in turn, is understood here as the “impact” aspect of GIC. Applications are understood as the models, tools, and activities that can provide actionable information to entities such as power systems operators for mitigating the effects of GIC and government agencies for managing any potential consequences from GIC impact to critical infrastructure. Applications can be considered the ultimate goal of our GIC work. In assessing the status of the field, we quantify the readiness of various applications in the mitigation context. We use the Applications Readiness Level (ARL) concept to carry out the quantification.

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1] Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs), resulting from adverse space weather, have been demonstrated to cause damage to power transformers in the midlatitudes. There is growing concern over possible GIC effects in the Southern African network because of its long power lines. Previous efforts to model the electric field associated with GICs in South Africa have used a uniform ground conductivity model. In an effort to improve the modeling of GICs, GIC data together with the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory geomagnetic field data were used in order to obtain a multilayered ground conductivity structure. The method requires a definition of the network coefficients, which are then used in subsequent calculations. This study shows that GIC computed using the new network coefficients and the multilayered ground conductivity model improves the accuracy of GIC modeling. GIC statistics are then derived on the basis of the recordings of the geomagnetic field from 1996 to 2006 at Hermanus, the new network coefficients, and ground conductivity model. The geoelectric field was modeled using the plane wave method.

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Power grids and pipeline networks at all latitudes are known to be at risk from the natural hazard of geomagnetically induced currents. At a recent workshop in South Africa, UK and South African scientists and engineers discussed the current understanding of this hazard, as it affects major power systems in Europe and Africa. They also summarised, to better inform the public and industry, what can be said with some certainty about the hazard and what research is yet required to develop useful tools for geomagnetic hazard mitigation.