Investigation of the Geomagnetically Induced Current Index Levels in the Mediterranean Region During the Strongest Magnetic Storms of Solar Cycle 24

• Published in: Space Weather Vol. 21; no. 2
• Main Authors: Boutsi, A. Z., Balasis, G., Dimitrakoudis, S., Daglis, I. A., Tsinganos, K., Papadimitriou, C., Giannakis, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.02.2023; Wiley
• Subjects: Arrays; Electric currents; Electric power; Electric power generation; Electric power grids; Electric power transmission; Electricity distribution; Geoelectric fields; Geoelectricity; Geomagnetic disturbances; Geomagnetic field; Geomagnetic field variations; Geomagnetic storms; Geomagnetism; Latitude; Magnetic storms; Mathematical analysis; Observatories; Power lines; Solar cycle; Space weather; Storms; Sudden commencements; Transmission lines; Greece; Italy; Algeria; Turkey; France; Spain
• DOI: 10.1029/2022SW003122
• ISSN: 1542-7390; 1539-4964

Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) constitute an integral part of space weather research and are a subject of ever‐growing attention for countries located in the low and middle latitudes. A series of recent studies highlights the importance of considering GIC risks for the Mediterranean region. Here, we exploit data from the HellENIc GeoMagnetic Array, which is deployed in Greece, complemented by magnetic observatories in the Mediterranean region (Italy, France, Spain, Algeria, and Turkey), to calculate values of the GIC index, that is, a proxy of the geoelectric field calculated entirely from geomagnetic field variations. We perform our analysis for the most intense magnetic storms (Dst < −150 nT) of solar cycle 24. Our results show that GIC index increases are well correlated with storm sudden commencements. However, the GIC indices do not exceed “low” activity levels despite the increases in their values, at all magnetic stations/observatories under study during the selected storm events. Plain Language Summary Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) flowing along electrically conductive infrastructure, such as power transmission lines, are produced by a naturally induced geoelectric field during geomagnetic disturbances, such as magnetic storms. GIC can cause widespread blackouts across power grids, resulting in the loss of electric power (i.e., the Hydro‐Québec's electricity transmission system experienced a nine‐hour outage during the 1989 magnetic storm). Although GIC intensity is greater in high latitudes, recent studies highlight the importance of considering GIC risks for countries located in the low and middle latitudes, including the Mediterranean region. Here, we exploit data from the HellENIc GeoMagnetic Array, which is deployed in Greece, complemented by magnetic observatories in the Mediterranean region (Italy, France, Spain, Algeria, and Turkey), to calculate values of the GIC index, that is, a proxy of the geoelectric field calculated entirely from geomagnetic field variations. We perform our analysis for the most intense magnetic storms of solar cycle 24 (2008–2019). Our results show that despite the enhanced GIC index values during the considered storm events, GIC indices do not exceed “low” activity levels at all magnetic stations/observatories under study. Key Points During strongest magnetic storms of solar cycle 24 geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) index does not exceed “low” activity levels in the Mediterranean Calculated E fields and GIC indices in the Mediterranean are found to have a correlation coefficient of around 0.6 during storms Multiple magnetometers per big European country needed to capture the complexity of induced E fields