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Geomagnetically induced currents
Geomagnetically induced currents
(GIC), affecting the normal operation of long technological conductor systems,are a manifestation at ground level of space weather . During space weather events (or geomagnetic storms) Earth's
near space current systems experiencelarge spatiotemporal variations reflectedalso in the variations of theEarth’sgeomagnetic field. These variationsinduce currents (GIC) in conductorsoperated at the surface of Earth. Electrictransmission grids and buried pipelinesare common examples of such conductor systems. GIC can cause problems such asincreased corrosion rate of pipeline steel and damaged high-voltage power transformers. Although this article discusses only the GIC aspect of the ground level of space weather, geomagnetic storms can also affect, for example, geophysicalexploration surveys and oil and gas drilling operations. Aurora australis observed byDiscovery, May 1991. ... A geomagnetic storm is a temporary disturbance of the Earthsmagnetosphere. ... The magnetosphere shields the surface of the Earth from thecharged particles of the solar wind. ...
The Earth’s geomagnetic field varies over a wide range of timescales. The longer-termvariations, typically those occurring over decades to millennia, are predominantly theresult of dynamo action in the Earth’s core. However, geomagnetic variations ontimescales of seconds to years also occur, due to dynamic processes in theionosphere,magnetosphereandheliosphere.These changes are ultimately tied to variations
associated with thesolar activity (or sunspot) cycleand are manifestations of ‘Space
Weather’. Relationship of the atmosphere and ionosphere The ionosphere is the part of the atmosphere that is ionized by solar radiation. ... A magnetosphere is the regionaround an astronomical object in which phenomena are dominated or organized by itsmagnetic field. ... The heliosphere is a bubble in space produced by the solar wind. ... Ithas been suggested that this article or section be merged with Schwabe-Wolf cycle. ...Aurora australis observed by Discovery, May 1991. ...The fact that the geomagnetic field does respond to solar conditions can be useful, for example in investigating Earth structure usingmagnetotellurics, but it also creates ahazard. This geomagnetic hazard is primarily a risk to technology, at least under theEarth’s protective atmospheric blanket (for recent reviews see, e.g., Lanzerotti, 2001;Pirjola et al, 2005). Here we discuss the ground effects of space weather, but we notethat space weather also impacts other technologies, for example, those associated withairlines, Earth-orbiting satellites, GPS, radio communication systems, and unmannedspace missions. Astronaut health during space weather events, for example duringextended stays on the International Space Station, and on any future Moon and Marsmissions, continues to be a prime consideration for national and international spaceagencies. Magnetotellurics (MT) is a natural-source, electromagnetic geophysicalmethod of imaging structures below the earths surface. ...
The Risk to Ground Infrastructures fromGeomagnetically Induced Currents
The basic principle for the generation of GIC: variations of the ionospheric currents (I(t))generate an electric field (E(t)) driving GIC. Shown are also real GIC recordings from theFinnish natural gas pipeline.A time-varying magnetic field external to the Earth induces electric currents in theconducting ground. These currents create a secondary (internal) magnetic field. As aconsequence of Faraday's law of induction, an electric field measurable at the surface of the Earth is induced associated with time variations of the magnetic field. The surfaceelectric field causes electrical currents, known as geomagnetically induced currents(GIC), to flow in any conducting structure, for example, a power or pipeline gridgrounded in the Earth. This electric field, measured in V/km, acts as a voltage sourceacross networks. Faradays law of induction (more generally, the law of electromagneticinduction) states that the induced emf (electromotive force) in a closed loop equals thenegative of the time rate of change of magnetic flux through the loop. ...Examples of conducting networks are electrical power transmission grids, oil and gas
pipelines, undersea communication cables, telephone and telegraph networks andrailways. GIC are often described as being quasi direct current (DC), although thevariation frequency of GIC is governed by the time variation of the electric field. For GICto be a hazard to technology, the current has to be of a magnitude and occurrencefrequency that makes the equipment susceptible to either immediate or cumulativedamage. The size of the GIC in any network is governed by the electrical properties andthe topology of the network. The largest magnetospheric-ionospheric current variations,resulting in the largest external magnetic field variations, occur during geomagneticstorms and it is then that the largest GIC occur. Significant variation periods are typicallyfrom seconds to about an hour, so the induction process involves the upper mantleandlithosphere. Since the largest magnetic field variations are observed at higher magneticlatitudes, GIC have been regularly measured in Canadian, Finnish and Scandinavianpower grids and pipelines since the 1970s. GIC of tens to hundreds of Amperes havebeen recorded. However GIC have also been recorded in countries at mid-latitudesduring major storms. There may even be a risk to low latitude nations especially during astorm sudden commencement because of the high, short-period, rate of change of thefield that occurs everywhere on the dayside of the Earth. Earth cutaway from core toexosphere. ... The tectonic plates of the Lithosphere on Earth. ...GIC have been known since the mid-1800s when it was noted that telegraph systemscould run without power sometimes during geomagnetic storms, described at the timeas operating by means of the “celestial battery”, while at other times they werecompletely inoperative (Boteler et al, 1998). However technological change and thegrowth of conducting networks have made the significance of GIC greater and morepervasive in modern society. We therefore describe the GIC hazard in detail in two of thebest-studied networks, power grids and pipelines. The technical considerations for undersea cables, telephone and telegraph networks and railways are similar. However fewer problems are known, or have been reported in the open literature, about thesesystems. This suggests that the hazard is less today, or that there are reliable methodsfor equipment protection.
GIC in power grids
Modernelectric power transmission systems consist of generating plant inter-connected
by electrical circuits that operate at fixed transmission voltages controlled at transformer substations. The grid voltages employed are largely dependent on the path lengthbetween these substations and 200kV-700kV system voltages are common. There is atrend towards higher voltages and lower line resistances to reduce transmission lossesover longer and longer path lengths. However low line resistances produce a situationfavourable to the flow of GIC.Power transformershave a magnetic circuit that isdisrupted by the quasi-DC GIC: the field produced by the GIC offsets the operating pointof the magnetic circuit and the transformer may go into half-cycle saturation. Thisproduces a harmonic-rich AC waveform, localised heating and leads to high reactivepower demands, inefficient power transmission and possible mis-operation of protectivemeasures. Balancing the network in such situations requires significant additional
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