Seeing the Northern Lights is a dream for many, and the recent intense geomagnetic storm in May provided that opportunity for some. However, scientists are becoming increasingly concerned about the threat these natural light displays pose to modern infrastructure.
New research has revealed a connection between the Northern Lights and strong electrical currents known as geomagnetically induced currents (GICs), which can cause damage to critical infrastructure like pipelines and undersea cables.
Researchers have found that the angle at which an interplanetary shock wave hits Earth’s magnetic field plays a crucial role in determining the strength of these currents.
“Auroras and GICs are linked through the same space weather phenomenon,” explained Dr. Denny Oliveira, a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. He emphasized that the aurora is a visual indication of the potential generation of GICs on the ground.
When solar particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field, geomagnetic storms are created, leading to the formation of the aurora. Interplanetary shock waves, arising from the Sun’s solar wind, also contribute to this process.
Interplanetary shock waves are formed similar to the sonic boom of a jet plane breaking the sound barrier. These shock waves compress Earth’s magnetic field and can generate powerful electrical currents that pose a threat to infrastructure conducting electricity.
Mitigating measures are crucial to protecting vulnerable infrastructure from the impact of interplanetary shock waves, as demonstrated by the severe power outage in Canada in 1989 following a geomagnetic storm. Oliveira emphasized the importance of monitoring and managing electrical circuits to prevent equipment damage.
Further research is needed to safeguard critical infrastructure from the strongest shock waves Earth encounters, Oliveira concluded.
About our experts
Denny Oliveira is an astrophysicist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Astrophysics, PHaSER/UMBC. His research focuses on interplanetary shock waves and their impact on plasma processes in space.
read more:
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
