From Early Exploration to Space Weather Forecasts: Canada's Geomagnetic Odyssey

On the predictive potential of Pc5 ULF waves to forecast relativistic electrons based on their relationships over two solar cycles

“…On the other hand, the use of ground magnetic data would pose no such concern because reliable ground magnetic data are always available. Given that five magnetic observatories are operating in Canada's auroral zone [ Lam , , Figure ], if a designated ground station for forecasting electrons is down or data are no good due to a data gap or spike, another station can be automatically switched on in the electron prediction algorithm to ensure no interruption of electron forecast that may be critical to satellite operators for alert of internal charging.…”

“…Ground magnetic data used to determine the daily Pc5 power consist of variations in the X component (i.e., the northward component) of the Earth's geomagnetic field recorded at 1 min intervals by Natural Resources Canada's Canadian Magnetic Observatory System (CANMOS) [ Lam , ]. Data collected by CANMOS observatories located in the auroral zone proximal to footprints of field lines threading GOES geostationary satellites were used in this study, so that relativistic electrons in the near‐Earth environment were linked to ground magnetic variations.…”

Analysis of GPS phase rate variations in response to geomagnetic field perturbations over the Canadian auroral region

“…NRCan currently operates an array of geomagnetic observatories that monitors the Earth's magnetic field (Lam, 2011). Local geomagnetic activity is reported by the Canadian space weather forecast center based on an Fig.…”

“…The geomagnetic field is measured by magnetic observatories worldwide to monitor the Earth's main magnetic field as well as space weather (Lam, 2011). In this paper, the magnetic activity indices in the Canadian auroral region are computed from data of the Canadian Magnetic Observatory System (CANMOS).…”

Why Space Weather Is Relevant to Electrical Power Systems

“…Two things stand out from the Quebec power failure of 1989. The first is that it should not have been such a surprise, because space weather forecasting had commenced as early as 1965, and in Canada since 1974 [ Lam , ], and several publications had already linked space weather and GICs in power systems. Second, the event initiated significant directed‐objective research to improve the understanding of the hazard and subsequently attracted many researchers to the complex problems.…”