Geomagnetic Storms and Long-Term Impacts on Power Systems

Kirkham, Harold; Makarov, Yuri V.; Dagle, Jeffery E.; DeSteese, J.G.; Elizondo, Marcelo; Diao, Ruisheng

doi:10.2172/1059627

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Traditionally, DC‐measuring instruments such as Hall effect sensors, shunt resistors, or clamp ammeters are installed on the neutral‐to‐ground connection of the transformer to measure the quasi‐DC flowing through this connection [e.g., Kirkham et al , ; Viljanen et al , ; Watari et al , ]. Under balanced operating conditions with no GIC, the current in the neutral‐to‐ground connection is zero.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential magnetometer method applied to measurement of geomagnetically induced currents in Southern African power networks

et al. 2016

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Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in conductors connected to the Earth are driven by an electric field produced by a time-varying magnetic field linked to magnetospheric-ionospheric current perturbations during geomagnetic storms. The GIC measurements are traditionally done on the neutral-to-ground connections of power transformers. A method of inferring the characteristics of GIC in power lines using differential magnetic field measurements is presented. Measurements of the GIC in the power lines connected to a particular power transformer are valuable in the verification of the modeling of GIC in the power transmission network. The differential magnetometer method (DMM) is an indirect method used to estimate the GIC in a power line. With the DMM, low-frequency GIC in the power line is estimated from the difference between magnetic field recordings made directly underneath the power line and at some distance away, where the magnetic field of the GIC in the transmission line has negligible effect. Results of the first application of the DMM to two selected sites of the Southern African power transmission network are presented. The results show that good quality GIC measurements are achieved through the DMM using Commercially-Off-The-Shelf magnetometers.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential magnetometer method applied to measurement of geomagnetically induced currents in Southern African power networks

et al. 2016

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“…Both ICMEs and CIRs are drivers of geomagnetic storms. Furthermore, Solar activity (ICMEs and CIRs) causes various types of physical processes in Earth's magnetosphere [13][14][15][16], ionosphere [17,18], atmosphere [4,19,20], lithosphere [21][22][23], biosphere [24][25][26][27] and technosphere [28][29][30].…”

Section: Solar Activitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Ground Electric Field, Atmospheric Weather and Electric Grid Variations in Northeast Greece Influenced by the March 2012 Solar Activity and the Moderate to Intense Geomagnetic Storms

Anagnostopoulos,

Karkanis,

Kampatagis

et al. 2024

Remote Sensing

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In a recent paper, we extended a previous study on the solar solar influence to the generation of the March 2012 heatwave in the northeastern USA. In the present study we check the possible relationship of solar activity with the early March 2012 bad weather in northeast Thrace, Greece. To this end, we examined data from various remote sensing instrumentation monitoring the Sun (SDO satellite), Interplanetary space (ACE satellite), the Earth’s magnetosphere (Earth-based measurements, NOAA-19 satellite), the top of the clouds (Terra and Aqua satellites), and the near ground atmosphere. Our comparative data analysis suggests that: (i) the winter-like weather (rainfall, fast winds, decreased temperature) in Thrace started on 6 March 2012, the same day as the heatwave started in USA, (ii) during the March 2012 winter-like event in Thrace (6–15 March), the ACE satellite recorded enhanced fluxes of solar energetic particles (SEPs), while SOHO and PAMELA recorded solar protons at very high energies (>500 MeV), (iii) Between 3–31 March, the temperature in Alexandoupoli and the ACE/EPAM solar high energy (1.88–4.70 MeV) proton flux were strongly anticorelated (r = −0.75, p = 0.5). (iv) Thrace experienced particularly intense cyclonic circulation, during periods of magnetic storms on 8–10 and 12–13 March, which occurred after the arrival at ACE of two interplanetary shock waves, on March 8 and March 11, respectively, (v) at the beginning of the two above mentioned periods large atmospheric electric fields were recorded, with values ranging between ~−2000 V/m and ~1800 V/m on 8 March, (vi) the winter-like weather on 8–10 March 2012 occurred after the detection of the main SEP event related with a coronal mass ejection released in interplanetary space as a result of intense solar flare activity observed by SDO on 7 March 2012, (vi) the 8–10 March weather was related with a deep drop of ~63 °C in the cloud top temperature measured by MODIS/Terra, which favors strong precipitation. Finally, we analyzed data from the electric power network in Thrace (~41°N) and we found, for the first time sudden voltage changes of ~3.5 kV in the electric grid in Greece, during the decay phase of the March 2012 storm series. We discuss the winter-like March 2012 event in Thrace regarding the influence of solar cosmic rays on the low troposphere mediated by positive North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Finally, we infer that the novel finding of the geomagnetic effects on the electric power grid in Thrace may open a new window into space weather applications research.

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“…Studies on the effects of solar eruptions on the Earth's electric field and, consequently, on electric power grids, began relatively recently, after a CME in1979 [30].The most famous GIC-induced electric failure occurred in the Hydro-Quebec power system in1989 [47][48][49][50]. Although GICs usually appear at high latitudes, a large ICME may cause GICs at middle and even low latitudes.…”

Section: Cme Related Geomagnetically Induced Electric Fields and Curr...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Extreme Bad Weather, Large Atmospheric Electric Field Fluctuations and Anomalous Changes in the High Voltage Electric Power Network in Thrace, North-East Greece, during the Solar Activity and the Magnetic Superstorm of March 2012

Anagnostopoulos,

Karkanis,

Kampatagis

et al. 2023

Preprint

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In a recent paper, we extended previous studies on solar-terrestrial relationships by investigating the origin of the March 2012 heatwave in northeast USA. In the present study we check the possible relationship of solar activity with the early March 2012 bad weather in northeast Thrace, Greece. To this end, we examined data from various remote sensing instrumentation monitoring the Sun (SDO satellite), the Interplanetary Space (ACE satellite), the Earth’s magnetosphere (Earth based measurements, NOAA-19 satellite), the top of the clouds (TERRA and AQUA satellites) and the near ground atmosphere. Our comparative data analysis suggests that: (i) the winter-like weather (rainfall, fast winds, decreased temperature) in Thrace started on 6 March 2012, on the same day as the heatwave starting in USA, (ii) during the March 2012 winter-like event in Thrace (6-15 March), the ACE satellite recorded enhanced fluxes of solar energetic particles (SEPs), while SOHO and PAMELA recorded solar protons at very high energies (> 500 MeV), (iii) Thrace experienced particularly intense cyclonic circulation, during periods of magnetic storms on 8 - 10 and 12-13 March, which occurred after the arrival at ACE of two interplanetary shock waves, on March 8 and March 11, respectively, (iv) at the beginning of the two above mentioned periods large atmospheric electric fields were recorded, with values ranging between ~-2000V/m - ~1800V/m on 8 March, (v) the winter-like 8-10 March 2012 weather occurred after the detection of the main SEP event related with a coronal mass ejection released in the interplanetary space as a result of intense solar flare activity observed by SDO on 7 March 2012, (vi) the 8-10 March weather was related with a deep drop of ~630C in the cloud top temperature measured by MODIS/TERRA, which favors strong precipitation. Finally, we analyzed data from the electric power network in Thrace (~410N) and we found, for the first time sudden voltage changes of ~3.5kV in the electric grid in Greece, during the decay phase of the March 2012 superstorm. We discuss the winter-like March 2012 event in Thrace in terms of solar cosmic ray influence on the low troposphere mediated by positive NAO. Finally, we infer that the novel finding of the geomagnetic effects on the electric power grid in Thrace may open a new window into space weather applications research.

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Geomagnetic Storms and Long-Term Impacts on Power Systems

Abstract: This document was printed on recycled paper.

Cited by 11 publications

References 4 publications

Differential magnetometer method applied to measurement of geomagnetically induced currents in Southern African power networks

Differential magnetometer method applied to measurement of geomagnetically induced currents in Southern African power networks

Ground Electric Field, Atmospheric Weather and Electric Grid Variations in Northeast Greece Influenced by the March 2012 Solar Activity and the Moderate to Intense Geomagnetic Storms

Extreme Bad Weather, Large Atmospheric Electric Field Fluctuations and Anomalous Changes in the High Voltage Electric Power Network in Thrace, North-East Greece, during the Solar Activity and the Magnetic Superstorm of March 2012

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