Research Article

Regional estimation of geomagnetically induced currents based on the local magnetic or electric field

¹ Finnish Meteorological Institute, Erik Palménin aukio 1, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
² Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Scheelevägen 17, 22370 Lund, Sweden

^* Corresponding author: ari.viljanen@fmi.fi

Received: 8 April 2015
Accepted: 15 June 2015

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated a close relationship between the time derivative of the horizontal geomagnetic field vector (dH/dt) and geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) at a nearby location in a power grid. Similarly, a high correlation exists between GIC and the local horizontal geoelectric field (E), typically modelled from a measured magnetic field.

Considering GIC forecasting, it is not feasible to assume that detailed prediction of time series will be possible. Instead, other measures summarising the activity level over a given period are preferable. In this paper, we consider the 30-min maximum of dH/dt or E as a local activity indicator (|dH/dt|₃₀ or |E|₃₀). Concerning GIC, we use the sum of currents through the neutral leads at substations and apply its 30-min maximum as a regional activity measure (GIC₃₀).

We show that |dH/dt|₃₀ at a single point yields a proxy for GIC activity in a larger region. A practical consequence is that if |dH/dt|₃₀ can be predicted at some point then it is also possible to assess the expected GIC level in the surrounding area. As is also demonstrated, |E|₃₀ and GIC₃₀ depend linearly on |dH/dt|₃₀, so there is no saturation with increasing geomagnetic activity contrary to often used activity indices.