Protection against stormy space weather
Geomagnetic storms are major disturbances in the space environment surrounding Earth that occur when there is a very efficient exchange of energy with the solar wind. On the surface of the Earth, these rapid changes in the magnetic field create currents in all conductive materials, including power grids. During its three-year lifetime, the 'European risk from geomagnetically induced currents' (EURISGIC) project consortium developed a model of the flow of these hazardous geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in European power transmission systems. Statistics of GIC activity were compiled using magnetic field measurements collected between 1996 and 2008. Although variations in the geomagnetic field are stronger close to the auroral zone producing GICs reaching up to a few hundred amperes. Currents up to tens of amperes were also modelled in southern regions of Europe. EURISGIC researchers also estimated the largest possible GICs over a 100-year period, which could be twice as large as those modelled. In addition, EURISGIC scientists derived the first-ever map of the statistical risk of large GICs in European power transmission systems. EURISGIC took on this major challenge with a view to establishing a European capability for 30 to 60-minute lead time forecasts of GICs in power systems throughout Europe. The first European-wide near-real-time forecasting services of GIC in power systems is based on in situ solar wind observations and advanced magnetospheric simulations or neural network methods. Early warning forecasts, risk maps and worst-case scenario assessments provided by the EURISGIC project will contribute to mitigating the risk that GICs present in present grids. The prototype forecasting services and statistical maps of risk to European high-voltage networks could also provide insights into effects of GICs in other areas of the world. Finally, given that GICs affect oil and gas pipelines as well as telecommunication cables and railway systems, the project provides a stepping stone from which to address other concerns.
Keywords
Geomagnetic storms, power grid, geomagnetically induced currents, forecasting
