Exploring the Influence of Lateral Conductivity Contrasts on the Storm Time Behavior of the Ground Electric Field in the Eastern United States
Abstract The intensification of the fluctuating geomagnetic field during space weather events leads to generation of a strong electric field in the conducting earth, which drives geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in grounded technological systems. GICs can severely affect the functioning of su...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Space Weather |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019SW002216 |
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| author | Elena Marshalko Mikhail Kruglyakov Alexey Kuvshinov Benjamin S. Murphy Lutz Rastätter Chigomezyo Ngwira Antti Pulkkinen |
| author_facet | Elena Marshalko Mikhail Kruglyakov Alexey Kuvshinov Benjamin S. Murphy Lutz Rastätter Chigomezyo Ngwira Antti Pulkkinen |
| author_sort | Elena Marshalko |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The intensification of the fluctuating geomagnetic field during space weather events leads to generation of a strong electric field in the conducting earth, which drives geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in grounded technological systems. GICs can severely affect the functioning of such infrastructure. The ability to realistically model the ground electric field (GEF) is important for understanding the space weather impact on technological systems. We present the results of three‐dimensional (3‐D) modeling of the GEF for the eastern United States during a geomagnetic storm of March 2015. The external source responsible for the storm is constructed using a 3‐D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of near‐Earth space. We explore effects from conductivity contrasts for various conductivity models of the region, including a 3‐D model obtained from inversion of EarthScope magnetotelluric data. As expected, the GEF in the region is subject to a strong coastal effect. Remarkably, effects from landmass conductivity inhomogeneities are comparable to the coastal effect. These inhomogeneities significantly affect the integrated GEF. This result is of special importance since the computation of GICs relies on integrals of the GEF (voltages), but not on the GEF itself. Finally, we compare the GEF induced by a laterally varying (MHD) source with that calculated using the plane wave approximation and show that the difference is perceptible even in the regions that are commonly considered to be negligibly affected by lateral nonuniformity of the source. Overall, the difference increases toward the north of the model where effects from laterally variable high‐latitude external currents become substantial. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-142272a4214642b08701e7eecfcbfe94 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1542-7390 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Space Weather |
| spelling | doaj-art-142272a4214642b08701e7eecfcbfe942025-01-14T16:27:19ZengWileySpace Weather1542-73902020-03-01183n/an/a10.1029/2019SW002216Exploring the Influence of Lateral Conductivity Contrasts on the Storm Time Behavior of the Ground Electric Field in the Eastern United StatesElena Marshalko0Mikhail Kruglyakov1Alexey Kuvshinov2Benjamin S. Murphy3Lutz Rastätter4Chigomezyo Ngwira5Antti Pulkkinen6Institute of Geophysics ETH Zürich Zürich SwitzerlandInstitute of Geophysics ETH Zürich Zürich SwitzerlandInstitute of Geophysics ETH Zürich Zürich SwitzerlandCollege of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis OR USANASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USANASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USANASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USAAbstract The intensification of the fluctuating geomagnetic field during space weather events leads to generation of a strong electric field in the conducting earth, which drives geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in grounded technological systems. GICs can severely affect the functioning of such infrastructure. The ability to realistically model the ground electric field (GEF) is important for understanding the space weather impact on technological systems. We present the results of three‐dimensional (3‐D) modeling of the GEF for the eastern United States during a geomagnetic storm of March 2015. The external source responsible for the storm is constructed using a 3‐D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of near‐Earth space. We explore effects from conductivity contrasts for various conductivity models of the region, including a 3‐D model obtained from inversion of EarthScope magnetotelluric data. As expected, the GEF in the region is subject to a strong coastal effect. Remarkably, effects from landmass conductivity inhomogeneities are comparable to the coastal effect. These inhomogeneities significantly affect the integrated GEF. This result is of special importance since the computation of GICs relies on integrals of the GEF (voltages), but not on the GEF itself. Finally, we compare the GEF induced by a laterally varying (MHD) source with that calculated using the plane wave approximation and show that the difference is perceptible even in the regions that are commonly considered to be negligibly affected by lateral nonuniformity of the source. Overall, the difference increases toward the north of the model where effects from laterally variable high‐latitude external currents become substantial.https://doi.org/10.1029/2019SW002216EM modeling3‐D conductivity modelsMHD modeling |
| spellingShingle | Elena Marshalko Mikhail Kruglyakov Alexey Kuvshinov Benjamin S. Murphy Lutz Rastätter Chigomezyo Ngwira Antti Pulkkinen Exploring the Influence of Lateral Conductivity Contrasts on the Storm Time Behavior of the Ground Electric Field in the Eastern United States Space Weather EM modeling 3‐D conductivity models MHD modeling |
| title | Exploring the Influence of Lateral Conductivity Contrasts on the Storm Time Behavior of the Ground Electric Field in the Eastern United States |
| title_full | Exploring the Influence of Lateral Conductivity Contrasts on the Storm Time Behavior of the Ground Electric Field in the Eastern United States |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the Influence of Lateral Conductivity Contrasts on the Storm Time Behavior of the Ground Electric Field in the Eastern United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the Influence of Lateral Conductivity Contrasts on the Storm Time Behavior of the Ground Electric Field in the Eastern United States |
| title_short | Exploring the Influence of Lateral Conductivity Contrasts on the Storm Time Behavior of the Ground Electric Field in the Eastern United States |
| title_sort | exploring the influence of lateral conductivity contrasts on the storm time behavior of the ground electric field in the eastern united states |
| topic | EM modeling 3‐D conductivity models MHD modeling |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2019SW002216 |
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