The First Documented Space Weather Event That Perturbed the Communication Networks in Iberia

Abstract

In this work, we review the first space weather event that affected significantly a number of communication networks in the Iberian Peninsula (Southwest of Europe). The event took place on 31 October 1903, during the ascending phase of solar cycle 14 (the lowest since the Dalton Minimum). We describe the widespread problems that occurred in the telegraph communication network in two midlatitude countries (Portugal and Spain), that was practically interrupted from 09 h30 to 21 h00 UT. Different impacts on the telegraphic communication are described and shown to be dependent on the large‐scale orientation of the wires. In order to put these results into a wider context we provide measurements of the concurrent geomagnetic field that are available from the observatories of Coimbra (Portugal) and San Fernando (Spain). The measurements confirm the simultaneous occurrence of large geomagnetic disturbances. In particular, the magnetograms recorded in Coimbra show a clear and large amplitude storm sudden commencement around 05 h30. The main phase, with a H (horizontal component of geomagnetic field) maximum range of ~500 nT, started approximately 1 h later and lasted for almost 10 h, suggesting that the interplanetary magnetic field was strongly southward for long time.

Estimating Satellite Orbital Drag During Historical Magnetic Superstorms

“…In order to empirically estimate drag effects during magnetic superstorms, standard Dst data and ground magnetometer data of historical superstorms reconstructed from historical archives are used by a thermospheric empirical model (section 2.3) for density computations (section 2.4). These events occurred in March 1989 (Allen et al., 1989; Boteler, 2019), with the traditional Dst index available, September 1909 (Hayakawa, Ebihara, Cliver et al., 2019; Silverman, 1995), May 1921 (Hapgood, 2019; Silverman & Cliver, 2001), and October/November 1903 (Lockyer, 1903; Ribeiro et al., 2016), with an alternative version to the Dst index available. These four magnetic superstorms are here examined because they are the only events with known and complete magnetograms that satisfy the threshold Dst/Dst‐like ≤ −500 nT.…”

The Reprise Special Collection for the 2001 Space Weather Monograph

“…The general topic of space weather impacts was introduced in the Monograph by Lanzerotti () with several historical vignettes related to GICs. Ribeiro et al () added historical perspective on GICs by documenting space weather effects of the 31 October 1903 magnetic storm on the Iberian Peninsula telegraph system (yes, it was exactly 100 years before the great 2003 Halloween storms). Also, in the RSC, the great storm in May 1967 and its extraordinary and wide‐spread radio impacts was detailed by Knipp et al ().…”

Early geomagnetic data from the Astronomical Observatory of Madrid (1879–1901)

“…Thus, for example, we today have long-term geomagnetic records of some European cities including London (Malin and Bullard, 1981;Barraclough et al, 2000) and Paris (Alexandrescu et al, 1996), as well as records of the great geomagnetic storms that occurred more than 100 years ago (Tsurutani, 2003;Vaquero et al, 2008;Ribeiro et al, 2011Ribeiro et al, , 2016. In the Iberian Peninsula, several geomagnetic observatories were found in the second half of the 19th century including Madrid, Lisbon, Coimbra, San Fernando, and Casa Balaguer (Cubillo, 1949;González, 1992;Pais and Miranda, 1995;Batlló, 2005;Morozova et al, 2014;Ribeiro et al, 2016). In particular, we can mention the "magnetic crusade" of Sabine and the "magnetic union" of Gauss.…”

“…In the 19th century, a network of geomagnetic observatories covered Europe and extended to many places on the Earth. Thus, for example, we today have long-term geomagnetic records of some European cities including London (Malin and Bullard, 1981;Barraclough et al, 2000) and Paris (Alexandrescu et al, 1996), as well as records of the great geomagnetic storms that occurred more than 100 years ago (Tsurutani, 2003;Vaquero et al, 2008;Ribeiro et al, 2011Ribeiro et al, , 2016. Although a considerable amount of geomagnetic data from the last four centuries are available thanks to measurements made on ships (Jonkers, 2003), the initiation of systematic measurements at geomagnetic observatories occurred in the 19th century (Cawood, 1979).…”

“…In particular, we can mention the "magnetic crusade" of Sabine and the "magnetic union" of Gauss. In the Iberian Peninsula, several geomagnetic observatories were found in the second half of the 19th century including Madrid, Lisbon, Coimbra, San Fernando, and Casa Balaguer (Cubillo, 1949;González, 1992;Pais and Miranda, 1995;Batlló, 2005;Morozova et al, 2014;Ribeiro et al, 2016). Note that the unique observatory in Spain with continuous geomagnetic record is San Fernando, in the South coast.…”