Impulsive disturbances of the geomagnetic field as a cause of induced currents of electric power lines

Abstract

Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) represent a significant challenge for society on a stable electricity supply. Space weather activates global electromagnetic and plasma processes in the near-Earth environment, however, the highest risk of GICs is related not directly to those processes with enormous energy yield, but too much weaker, but fast, processes. Here we consider several typical examples of such fast processes and their impact on power transmission lines in the Kola Peninsula and in Karelia: interplanetary shocks; traveling convection vortices; impulses embedded in substorms; and irregular Pi3 pulsations. Geomagnetic field variability is examined using data from the IMAGE (International Monitor for Auroral Geomagnetic Effects) magnetometer array. We have confirmed that during the considered impulsive events the ionospheric currents fluctuate in both the East-West and North-South directions, and they do induce GIC in latitudinally extended electric power line. It is important to reveal the fine structure of fast geomagnetic variations during storms and substorms not only for a practical point of view but also for a fundamental scientific view.

A global climatological model of extreme geomagnetic field fluctuations

“…The westward current enhancements are recorded as southward deflections of the magnetic field, as observed by ground-based magnetometers. To a good approximation, the direction of any fluctuation, dB H , measured at the ground is 90°anticlockwise from the ionospheric current direction (as viewed from above the current sheet) assuming planar electromagnetic wave propagation and minimal horizontal gradients in ground conductivity Belakhovsky et al, 2019).…”

“…Sudden commencements (SC) (a general term for both SSC and SI) occur in response to step changes in solar wind dynamic pressure that cause a sudden increase in the Chapman-Ferraro current flowing eastward along the dayside magnetopause boundary (Chapman & Ferraro, 1931;Milan et al, 2017). They typically have a magnitude of several tens of nT/min at low latitudes, but may occasionally exceed 120 nT/min (Fiori et al, 2014;Carter et al, 2015) and have been associated with GIC disturbances in HV electricity networks (Kappenman, 2003(Kappenman, , 2004Marshall et al, 2012;Fiori et al, 2014;Zhang et al, 2015;Belakhovsky et al, 2017Belakhovsky et al, , 2019.…”

“…Alternatively, Pc5 waves may be triggered by shocks in the solar wind associated with Sudden Commencements (Zong et al, 2009;Zhang et al, 2010;Hao et al, 2019). Belakhovsky et al (2019) also recently considered the importance of irregular Pi3 ULF waves and Travelling Convection Vortices (TCV) in driving large jdB H =dtj events. Pi3 waves are described as "quasi-periodic sequences of magnetic impulses" with timescales between 10 and 20 min, and TCVs have been observed as a twin vortex of Hall currents in the polar cleft region.…”

Space Weather Quarterly Volume 16, Issue 4, 2019

“…For example, substorm-injected energetic particles can lead to surface charging in satellites, which can damage surface materials and underlying components (Gubby & Evans, 2002;Horne et al, 2013;O'Brien, 2009). Substorms can also produce geomagnetically induced currents that adversely impact electric supply networks (Belakhovsky et al, 2019;Freeman et al, 2019). Forecasting substorm activity has therefore been a topic of practical as well as theoretical space weather interest.…”

Unified Geomagnetic Database from Different Observation Networks for Geomagnetic Hazard Assessment Tasks

“…A study done by Pirjola (2002) describes the occurrence of erroneous traffic signals on railways caused by geomagnetically induced currents. Other studies have reported the effects of GIC's on electric power grids (Belakhovsky et al 2019), trans-oceanic cables (Lanzerotti et al 1995) and pipelines (Pulkkinen et al 2001).…”