SM011-03
Analysis of Geomagnetically Induced Currents through Network Analysis with Magnetometer Measurements
Tuesday, 8 December 2020: 07:06
Virtual
Joe Hughes1, Ryan Michael McGranaghan2, Adam C Kellerman3, Jacob Bortnik4, Robert F Arritt5, Karthik Venkataramani1, Jackson McCormick6, Chigomezyo Ngwira7, Morris Cohen8 and Charles Perry9, (1)Atmospheric and Space Technology Research Associates, LLC, Boulder, CO, United States, (2)Atmospheric and Space Technology Research Associates (ASTRA), Louisville, CO, United States, (3)University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States, (4)University of California Los Angeles, Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Los Angeles, CA, United States, (5)Electric Power Research Institute Palo Alto, Palo Alto, TN, United States, (6)Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus, Atlanta, GA, United States, (7)ASTRA LLC, Science, Louisville, CO, United States, (8)Georgia Institute of Technology Main Campus, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Atlanta, GA, United States, (9)Electric Power Research Institute Palo Alto, Palo Alto, United States
Abstract:
The growing depth and breadth of available data that span the solar-terrestrial environment place us at a tipping point – the potential of these data is immense but realizing that potential requires a better representation. We present a new network-based approach to represent data collected by power utilities along with information from the solar-terrestrial connection that represents a change in how space weather research is conducted. The progress was generated as part of a new project within the National Science Foundation Convergence Accelerator program: "The Convergence Hub for the Exploration of Space Science (CHESS)." We share results from data streams of Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) provided through the EPRI sunburst project linked to magnetometer data from the Super Magnetometer Initiative.
We will demonstrate the value of the network approach by addressing two long-standing questions: 1) what percentage of GICs are caused by space weather? And 2) how much more likely are GICs if space weather is observed? Periods of active space weather are identified in the magnetometer data, and these are compared to times of high current on transformers. The probability of a significant GIC is found to be higher during periods of active space weather. The average probability multiplier for all pairs is found to be 1.13, but it is larger than 2 for the best-connected pairs. This work provides actionable insights to power grid operators because if magnetic activity is observed at these sites, they can take actions to protect their equipment.
