Magnetic Storms and Induction Hazards

Abstract

Magnetic storms are potentially hazardous to the activities and technological infrastructure of modern civilization. This reality was dramatically demonstrated during the great magnetic storm of March 1989, when surface geoelectric fields, produced by the interaction of the time‐varying geomagnetic field with the Earth's electrically conducting interior, coupled onto the overlying Hydro‐Québec electric power grid in Canada. Protective relays were tripped, the grid collapsed, and about 9 million people were temporarily left without electricity [Bolduc, 2002].

Mapping geoelectric fields during magnetic storms: Synthetic analysis of empirical United States impedances

“…Maps of storm time geoelectric fields could be used in a real‐time setting to assess induction hazards for power grids [e.g., Burstinghaus et al , ; Zheng et al , ]; they could also be used in scenario simulations [e.g., Pulkkinen et al , ; Viljanen et al , ; Torta et al , ] to evaluate the vulnerability of power grids for extreme event magnetic storms [e.g., Boteler , ; Overbye et al , ]. Conceivably, regional maps of geoelectric field variation can be calculated by parameterized induction [e.g., Thomson et al , ; Love et al , ; Marti et al , ]—convolving a time‐dependent map of ground level geomagnetic activity with a complex impedance tensor that is a physical function of Earth conductivity. Storm time magnetic activity can be mapped by fitting parameterized functions to magnetometer data [e.g., Pulkkinen et al , ], thus, to some extent, filling in the geographic space between sparsely distributed observatory stations [e.g., Love and Chulliat , ], though more stations are certainly needed.…”

Geoelectric monitoring at the Boulder magnetic observatory

“…One approach to regional-and continental-scale geoelectric field mapping is convolving maps of Earth impedance with maps of geomagnetic activity (e.g., Thomson, 2007;Love et al, 2014). Toward this end, long-term surface geoelectric field data, spanning both quiet and storm times, are critical to validating predicted field data and to benchmarking different modeling approaches (e.g., Kelbert et al, 2017;Bonner and Schultz, 2017).…”

“…In support of a project for modeling and evaluating geoelectric hazards (e.g., Thomson, 2007;Love et al, 2014), in June 2016 the Geomagnetism Program of the US Geological Survey (USGS) commenced long-term geoelectric field monitoring at its Boulder, Colorado, magnetic observatory (BOU). The Boulder geoelectric monitoring project partially fulfills a directive in the United States National Space Weather Action Plan (NSTC, 2015; Goal 5.5.4) (one of many given to different agencies) for the Department of Interior to "assess and pilot a geoelectric monitoring capability".…”

Down to Earth With an Electric Hazard From Space

“…Future progress in evaluation storm time geoelectric hazards will come primarily through monitoring, surveys, and modeling of related data. For the United States, completing the national magnetotelluric survey and improving real-time geomagnetic monitoring are high priorities [e.g., Thomson et al, 2009;Love et al, 2014]. Looking beyond statistical hazard maps, ongoing algorithm development [e.g., Bonner and Schultz, 2017;Kelbert et al, 2016;Weigel, 2017] could enable time-series scenario mapping of individual magnetic storms-convolving a time-dependent map of ground-level geomagnetic disturbance, derived from ground-based magnetometer data [e.g., Pulkkinen et al, 2003;Rigler et al, 2014], with a map of Earth-surface impedance.…”