Case studies of space weather events from their launching on the Sun to their impacts on power systems on the Earth

Lam, H.-L.; Boteler, D. H.; Trichtchenko, L.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-20-1073-2002

Articles | Volume 20, issue 7

https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-20-1073-2002

© Author(s) 2002. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Special issue:

SPACE WEATHER

https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-20-1073-2002

© Author(s) 2002. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Articles | Volume 20, issue 7

31 Jul 2002

| 31 Jul 2002

Case studies of space weather events from their launching on the Sun to their impacts on power systems on the Earth

H.-L. Lam, D. H. Boteler, and L. Trichtchenko

Abstract. Active geomagnetic conditions on 12–13, 15–16, and 22–23 September 1999 resulted in geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) measurable in power systems in Canada and the United States. Different solar origins for these three events gave rise to dissimilar interplanetary signatures. We used these events to present three case studies, each tracing an entire space weather episode from its inception on the Sun, propagation through the interplanetary medium, manifestation on the ground as intense magnetic and electric fluctuations, and its eventual impact on technological systems.

Key words. Geomagnetism and paleomagnetism (rapid time variations) – Interplanetary physics (interplanetary magnetic fields) – Solar physics, astrophysics, and astronomy (flares and mass ejections)