Combined space and ground-based data to better predict power outages and disturbances in navigation systems

Solar eruptions provoke disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field, which lead to geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) in pipelines and power grids at the Earth’s surface that in turn can cause power outages.

Solar eruptions also create perturbations in the upper ionized atmosphere, the ionosphere, which generate disturbances in navigation systems. These outages and disturbances are part of the space weather.

To prevent and predict space weather effects accurately, it is crucial to have advanced knowledge of how processes in space affect the ionosphere and the ground.

Using combined data from space-born satellites and ground-based magnetometers and radars, I will investigate two important aspects: (1) the relation between sub-auroral polarizations streams (SAPS) in the ionosphere and geo-magnetic disturbances (GMDs) observed on the ground at high latitudes. (2) The impact of SAPS-GMDs events on navigation systems.

Divided in four work packages, the project will be conducted in strong collaboration between the Technical University of Denmark, Denmark, University of Leicester, UK and Umeå University, Sweden. I will spend 12 months (not continuously) in each country.

The project will provide (1) new parameters for forecasting induced currents and (2) better predictions for disturbance in navigation systems used in numbers of applications such as railway control, emergency responses or commercial aviation.