Geomagnetic Disturbances – Prediction and Verification

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. Risk to the electric power grid is but one example of space weather consequences and the dire need for increased capability with regard to prediction, assessment, and accuracy 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. Concept studies for upstream solar wind monitoring and CME observations from L1 as well as off-angle platforms will be discussed. The AMPERE/Iridium system of identifying the ionospheric source current systems which are responsible for geomagnetic induced currents (GICs) will be highlighted. This capability would be vital to understanding the cause and effect.