English

Disturbances in the U.S. electric grid associated with geomagnetic activity

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics 2013-04-22 v1

Abstract

Large solar explosions are responsible for space weather that can impact technological infrastructure on and around Earth. Here, we apply a retrospective cohort exposure analysis to quantify the impacts of geomagnetic activity on the U.S. electric power grid for the period from 1992 through 2010. We find, with more than 3-sigma significance, that approximately 4% of the disturbances in the U.S. power grid reported to the U.S. Department of Energy are attributable to strong geomagnetic activity and its associated geomagnetically induced currents.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1304.5489,
  title  = {Disturbances in the U.S. electric grid associated with geomagnetic activity},
  author = {Carolus J. Schrijver and Sarah D. Mitchell},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1304.5489},
  year   = {2013}
}

Comments

Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate, 2013, in press