| Title | Numerical calculation of geoelectric fields that affect critical infrastructure |
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| Author | Boteler, D H ;
Pirjola, R J |
| Source | International Journal of Geosciences vol. 10, no. 10, 2019 p. 930-949, https://doi.org/10.4236/ijg.2019.1010053  Open Access |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2019 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20180404 |
| Publisher | Scientific Research Publishing |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf; html |
| Subjects | geophysics; Science and Technology; Nature and Environment; Health and Safety; geomagnetic fields; geomagnetic variations; geoelectric variations; conductivity; modelling; Infrastructures |
| Illustrations | schematic representations; tables; time series; models; plots |
| Program | Public Safety Geoscience Northern Canada Geohazards Project |
| Released | 2019 10 29 |
| Abstract | One of the modern applications of geomagnetism is determining the effect of geomagnetic disturbances on critical infrastructure such as power systems and pipelines. Assessing the geomagnetic hazard to
such systems requires calculation of the geoelectric fields produced during geomagnetic disturbances. Such geoelectric fields can then be used as input to system models to calculate the impact on the system. This paper describes what is involved in
calculating the geoelectric fields produced during real geomagnetic disturbances. The theory of geomagnetic induction is presented and used to derive the Earth transfer function relating the geoelectric and geomagnetic field variations at the Earth's
surface. It is then shown how this can be used to make practical calculations of the geoelectric fields and how the calculation process can be verified by comparison with analytic solutions obtained with synthetic geomagnetic variation data. The
accuracy of the calculated geoelectric fields for geomagnetic risk assessments is limited, not by the accuracy of the calculation methods, but by the availability of geomagnetic field measurements and Earth conductivity information over the whole
extent of the affected infrastructure. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
Space weather refers to the dynamic conditions on the Sun and in the space environment, in particular, in the near-Earth environment, that can affect
critical infrastructure. NRCan operates the Canadian Space Weather Forecast Centre and conducts research into space weather effects on power systems, pipelines, radio communications and GNSS positioning to help Canadian industry understand and
mitigate the effects of space weather. This paper describes what is involved in calculating the geoelectric fields produced during geomagnetic disturbances. The theory is presented and it is then shown how the derived relations are used to make
practical calculations. The results are tested by comparison with analytic solutions obtained with synthetic geomagnetic variation data. This shows the accuracy of the calculation methods. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 313685 |
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