On extreme geomagnetic storms

Extreme geomagnetic storms are considered as one of the major natural hazards for technology-dependent society. Geomagnetic field disturbances can disrupt the operation of critical infrastructures relying on space-based assets, and can also result in terrestrial effects, such as the Quebec electrica...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Cid Tortuero, Consuelo|||0000-0002-2863-3745, Palacios Hernández, Judith|||0000-0002-1518-512X, Saiz Villanueva, María Elena|||0000-0001-7878-9476, Guerrero Ortega, Antonio|||0000-0002-7056-7753, Cerrato Montalbán, Yolanda|||0000-0002-0170-4777
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2014
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Alcalá (UAH)
Repositorio:e_Buah Biblioteca Digital Universidad de Alcalá
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ebuah.uah.es:10017/29340
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10017/29340
https://dx.doi.org/10.1051/swsc/2014026
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Geomagnetic storm
Space weather: Geomagnetic indices
Astronomía
Fisica
Physics
Astronomy
Descripción
Sumario:Extreme geomagnetic storms are considered as one of the major natural hazards for technology-dependent society. Geomagnetic field disturbances can disrupt the operation of critical infrastructures relying on space-based assets, and can also result in terrestrial effects, such as the Quebec electrical disruption in 1989. Forecasting potential hazards is a matter of high priority, but considering large flares as the only criterion for early-warning systems has demonstrated to release a large amount of false alarms and misses. Moreover, the quantification of the severity of the geomagnetic disturbance at the terrestrial surface using indices as Dst cannot be considered as the best approach to give account of the damage in utilities. High temporal resolution local indices come out as a possible solution to this issue, as disturbances recorded at the terrestrial surface differ largely both in latitude and longitude. The recovery phase of extreme storms presents also some peculiar features which make it different from other less intense storms. This paper goes through all these issues related to extreme storms by analysing a few events, highlighting the March 1989 storm, related to the Quebec blackout, and the October 2003 event, when several transformers burnt out in South Africa.