Sensitivity of Ground Magnetometer Array Elements for GIC Applications I: Resolving Spatial Scales With the BEAR and CARISMA Arrays
Abstract Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) can be driven in terrestrial electrical power grids as a result of the induced electric fields arising from geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) resulting from the dynamics of the coupled magnetosphere‐ionosphere‐ground system. However, a key issue is to as...
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| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Space Weather |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021SW002919 |
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| author | Stavros Dimitrakoudis David K. Milling Andy Kale Ian R. Mann |
| author_facet | Stavros Dimitrakoudis David K. Milling Andy Kale Ian R. Mann |
| author_sort | Stavros Dimitrakoudis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) can be driven in terrestrial electrical power grids as a result of the induced electric fields arising from geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) resulting from the dynamics of the coupled magnetosphere‐ionosphere‐ground system. However, a key issue is to assess an optimum spacing for the magnetometer stations in order to provide appropriate monitoring of the GIC‐related GMD. Here we assess the vector correlation lengths of GMD and related amplitude occurrence distribution of the variations of horizontal magnetic field dBH/dt. Specifically, we study the GMD response to two storm‐time substorms using data from two magnetometer arrays, the Baltic Electromagnetic Array Research Project in Scandinavia and the Canadian Array for Realtime Investigations of Magnetic Activity array in North America, so as to determine the appropriate magnetometer spacing in latitude and longitude, for monitoring and assessing GIC risk. We find that although magnetic disturbances are well‐correlated up to distances of several hundred kilometers at mid‐latitudes, the vector correlation length rapidly drops off for station separations of less than 100 km within the auroral oval. In general geomagnetic fluctuations are stronger and more localized in the auroral zone. Since the auroral oval is pushed equatorward during intense magnetic storms, we highlight that networks using a station separation of ∼200 km should provide an excellent basis for monitoring both small and large scale geomagnetic disturbances. A monitoring network with this station spacing is recommended as being appropriate for assessing the role of GMD in driving GICs in the electric power grid. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f3c361c2ad0b4c77be84ca84b5599360 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1542-7390 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Space Weather |
| spelling | doaj-art-f3c361c2ad0b4c77be84ca84b55993602025-01-14T16:35:21ZengWileySpace Weather1542-73902022-01-01201n/an/a10.1029/2021SW002919Sensitivity of Ground Magnetometer Array Elements for GIC Applications I: Resolving Spatial Scales With the BEAR and CARISMA ArraysStavros Dimitrakoudis0David K. Milling1Andy Kale2Ian R. Mann3Department of Physics University of Alberta Edmonton AB CanadaDepartment of Physics University of Alberta Edmonton AB CanadaDepartment of Physics University of Alberta Edmonton AB CanadaDepartment of Physics University of Alberta Edmonton AB CanadaAbstract Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) can be driven in terrestrial electrical power grids as a result of the induced electric fields arising from geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) resulting from the dynamics of the coupled magnetosphere‐ionosphere‐ground system. However, a key issue is to assess an optimum spacing for the magnetometer stations in order to provide appropriate monitoring of the GIC‐related GMD. Here we assess the vector correlation lengths of GMD and related amplitude occurrence distribution of the variations of horizontal magnetic field dBH/dt. Specifically, we study the GMD response to two storm‐time substorms using data from two magnetometer arrays, the Baltic Electromagnetic Array Research Project in Scandinavia and the Canadian Array for Realtime Investigations of Magnetic Activity array in North America, so as to determine the appropriate magnetometer spacing in latitude and longitude, for monitoring and assessing GIC risk. We find that although magnetic disturbances are well‐correlated up to distances of several hundred kilometers at mid‐latitudes, the vector correlation length rapidly drops off for station separations of less than 100 km within the auroral oval. In general geomagnetic fluctuations are stronger and more localized in the auroral zone. Since the auroral oval is pushed equatorward during intense magnetic storms, we highlight that networks using a station separation of ∼200 km should provide an excellent basis for monitoring both small and large scale geomagnetic disturbances. A monitoring network with this station spacing is recommended as being appropriate for assessing the role of GMD in driving GICs in the electric power grid.https://doi.org/10.1029/2021SW002919space weatherGICmagnetic stormsmagnetometers |
| spellingShingle | Stavros Dimitrakoudis David K. Milling Andy Kale Ian R. Mann Sensitivity of Ground Magnetometer Array Elements for GIC Applications I: Resolving Spatial Scales With the BEAR and CARISMA Arrays Space Weather space weather GIC magnetic storms magnetometers |
| title | Sensitivity of Ground Magnetometer Array Elements for GIC Applications I: Resolving Spatial Scales With the BEAR and CARISMA Arrays |
| title_full | Sensitivity of Ground Magnetometer Array Elements for GIC Applications I: Resolving Spatial Scales With the BEAR and CARISMA Arrays |
| title_fullStr | Sensitivity of Ground Magnetometer Array Elements for GIC Applications I: Resolving Spatial Scales With the BEAR and CARISMA Arrays |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensitivity of Ground Magnetometer Array Elements for GIC Applications I: Resolving Spatial Scales With the BEAR and CARISMA Arrays |
| title_short | Sensitivity of Ground Magnetometer Array Elements for GIC Applications I: Resolving Spatial Scales With the BEAR and CARISMA Arrays |
| title_sort | sensitivity of ground magnetometer array elements for gic applications i resolving spatial scales with the bear and carisma arrays |
| topic | space weather GIC magnetic storms magnetometers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2021SW002919 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT stavrosdimitrakoudis sensitivityofgroundmagnetometerarrayelementsforgicapplicationsiresolvingspatialscaleswiththebearandcarismaarrays AT davidkmilling sensitivityofgroundmagnetometerarrayelementsforgicapplicationsiresolvingspatialscaleswiththebearandcarismaarrays AT andykale sensitivityofgroundmagnetometerarrayelementsforgicapplicationsiresolvingspatialscaleswiththebearandcarismaarrays AT ianrmann sensitivityofgroundmagnetometerarrayelementsforgicapplicationsiresolvingspatialscaleswiththebearandcarismaarrays |