Geomagnetic Disturbances – Electric Power Grid

Space weather impacts to the US power grid during even not-so-extreme events have been identified in multiple recent reports conducted by the National Academy of Sciences, Department of Homeland Security, stakeholder agencies and organizations, and insurance companies. Quite disparate analyses have led to quite controversial and varying conclusions, nonetheless the risks are apparent. Recent reports will be summarized (2009 NRC – Severe Space Weather Events; 2010 Oak Ridge National Laboratory (commissioned by DHS) – Geomagnetic Storms and their impact on the US Power Grid; 2011 JASON – Impacts of Severe Space Weather on the Electric Grid, 2012 North American Electric Reliability Corporation – Effects of Geomagnetic Disturbances on the Bulk Power System; 2013 Lloyd's – Solar Storm Risk to the North American Electric Grid).

Risk to the electric power grid is but one example of space weather consequences and the dire need for increased capability with regard to assessment, accuracy and the predictability of our space weather intelligence system. Aging research platforms angled into operational use begs for a systems approach for observational capability and to incorporate the same into operational prediction models in order to understand the realistic cause and effect.