Session 1 - Geomagnetic Storms: a Geomagnetically Induced Current perspective

Mirko Piersanti (INFN); Roberta Tozzi
Monday 18/11, 13:00-14:00
Tuesday 19/11 11:15-12:30 & 17:15-18:30
Rogier

In the highly technological society we are living, the study of Space Weather is becoming increasingly important to protect the use of critical infrastructures both in space and on Earth. A recent USA Government research on the economic impact of a severe geomagnetic storm shows that the potential costs on the USA power grid could be of 1-2 trillion dollars.
During a geomagnetic storm, the principal magnetospheric currents and the connected ionospheric currents are intensified causing rapid changes of the geomagnetic field. These variations generate Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) at ground that can disrupt the operation of power grids, magnetic surveying, etc.

This session aims to achieve a significant improvement in the global knowledge on the following important open questions:
What are the magnetosphere-ionosphere processes driven by Space Weather events responsible for driving extreme GICs?
What are the roles played by ionospheric turbulence, ground conductivity and the actual affected networks themselves in amplifying GICs?
What are the main parameters/proxies/indices that could be used to forecast the building up of intense GICs?

In this session, we invite papers about recent progress and current understanding of the physical processes of GICs, their associated impact on technologies as well as about the innovative use of mathematical methods that could provide new perspectives on GIC related research. Submissions that focus on observations, modelling, and theoretical understanding are all encouraged.

Talks
Monday November 18, 13:00 - 14:00, Rogier
Tuesday November 19, 11:15 - 12:30, Rogier
Tuesday November 19, 17:15 - 18:30, Rogier

Click here to toggle abstract display in the schedule

Talks : Time schedule

Monday November 18, 13:00 - 14:00, Rogier

13:00	Science challenges in modelling of geomagnetically induced currents	Viljanen, A et al.	Invited Oral
	Ari Viljanen
	Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
	Geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) flowing in technological conductor systems provide a diverse research topic whose full analysis requires knowledge of space physics, geophysics and power engineering. The basic modelling method of GIC in power grids and pipelines is well-established: from a given geoelectric field and known electrical parameters of a conductor system, it is straightforward to calculate induced currents. With good enough input data (geomagnetic field recordings, optimal ground conductivity models), GIC can be accurately modelled for past events. On the other hand, it is not yet possible to forecast GIC reliably with a lead time of one hour or more. In this presentation, we concentrate on questions related to understanding characteristics of space storms that can result in major GIC events. We present some examples of true events and also illustrate the complexity of the phenomenon by hypothetical cases. The spatial and temporal variability of the geomagnetic field and the effect of the complex ground conductivity on the geoelectric field are considered.
13:30	Comparing 1D and 3D ground conductivity models for global geomagnetically induced current forecasts	Honkonen, I et al.	Oral
	Ilja Honkonen [1], Ari Viljanen [1]
	[1] Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
	Typically, GIC modeling is split into two parts: First, the ground geoelectric field is determined and then it is applied to a conductor system as the driver of GIC. A popular modeling method has been to assume that the ground consists of locally uniform layers with different conductivities and the electric field is then determined from the magnetic field by the 1D surface impedance (local 1D method). However, the true ground often has a very complicated structure and its conductivity also has strong lateral variations. It is clear that the accuracy of the local 1D method decreases when conductivity gradients increase. In recent years, there has been significant progress in taking into account the effect of 3D conductivity. We perform the first to our knowledge global scale comparison between GIC obtained using 1D and 3D methods, by using as input global forecasts of ground geoelectric field of one geomagnetic storm. By moving a power grid around the globe and calculating the resulting GIC, we are able to study the effects of a large variety of geological conditions as well as several types of geomagnetic events. Contrary to the magnetotelluric impedance method, we have an explicit 3D ground conductivity model which includes a well-defined 1D model at every location, that allows us to make a global self-consistent comparison between 1D and 3D approaches.
13:45	Validating the Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) for applications in northern Europe: Ground magnetic perturbation validation	Kwagala, N et al.	Oral
	Norah Kwagala[1], Michael Hesse[1], Paul Tenfjord[1], Cecilia Norgren[1], Therese Jorgensen[1], Gabor Toth[2], Tamas Gombosi[2]
	[1]Birkeland Centre for Space Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, [2]Department of Climate and Space, Center for Space Environment Modeling, University of Michigan, MI, USA
	Ground magnetic perturbations are an important link to the geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) in the ground systems which pause a risk on the power grids and other vulnerable infrastructure. In this study we evaluate the performance of the University of Michigan’s Space Weather Modeling Framework (SWMF) in the prediction of ground magnetic perturbations in the northern European region. The SWMF consists of an MHD code which is a Block Adaptive Tree Solar-wind Roe-type Upwind Scheme (BATS-R-US), with several other models which can be coupled together. We use the the global magnetosphere, ionosphere electrodynamics and inner magnetosphere coupled SWMF. The SWMF is currently used for space weather forecast by the by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Centre (SWPC) and at the Community Coordinated Modeling Centre (CCMC). The SWMF was selected to transit to operation after a series of community-wide validations of several numerical models on a global scale. In our study we further validate the SWMF for applications in the northern European region. The model predictions are done for selected ground magnetometer stations between 59$^{o}$-78$^{o}$ magnetic latitudes spanning 5 magnetic local hours (from the Norwegian, Finland and Greenland magnetometer lines). The performance is quantified using the metrics-based analyses and the normalized root-mean-square error. The different metrics are derived from contingency tables built for each event and station. Investigated metrics include the probability of detection, probability of false alarm detection, Heidke Skill Score and frequency bias of the model. The variation of the model performance is investigated from event to event, and for different magnetic latitudes, and magnetic local times.

Tuesday November 19, 11:15 - 12:30, Rogier

11:15	On the regional variability of dB/dt and its significance to GIC	Dimmock, A et al.	Oral
	Andrew P. Dimmock[1], Lisa Rosenqvist[2], Daniel Welling[3], Ari Viljanen[4], Ilja Honkonen[4], Emiliya Yordanova[1]
	[1]Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF), Uppsala, Sweden, [2]Swedish Research Defence Agency (FOI), Stockholm, Sweden, [3]University of Texas at Arlington, Texas, USA, [4]Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), Helsinki, Finland
	Geomagnetically Induced currents (GICs) flow in large ground-based infrastructures (such as pipelines and power lines) and are recognised as a significant space weather hazard. GICs arise due to a geoelectric field, which is set up by rapid variations in the geomagnetic field (dB/dt) and the local ground conductive properties. One of the current challenges in forecasting GICs is that they can exhibit substantial regional (~500km) variability. The controlling factors are the complex and dynamic spatiotemporal behaviour of the ionospheric currents, and/or the regional variability of the ground conductivity. However, reality is even more difficult since GICs are often influenced by both of these effects. In this study, we have focused on the regional variability of parameters which are fundamental to GICs. Firstly, using the IMAGE magnetometer chain, we quantified the variations of dB/dt over a region of a few hundred km, and identified the key upstream criterion. Secondly, using Space Weather Modelling Framework (SWMF) runs of varying spatial grid resolutions, we assessed the capability of the model to produce spatially structured ground responses by analysing virtual magnetometer data. Finally, in the context of GICs, we employed a full 3D ground conductivity model coupled to ionospheric equivalent currents to determine the importance of capturing regional effects. The key points from this study are the following. Firstly, the regional variability of dB/dt was significant over scales of 100s of km, and mainly depended on the southward IMF strength; nevertheless, comparable effects were also observed during northward IMF but only during faster solar wind speeds. Secondly, in certain cases, we found that the types of regional effects we investigated may be important to GIC modelling. Finally, although global MHD models produced some limited spatial structure of the geomagnetic response, the performance was optimal for the storm commencement period. Notably, physical processes such as substorms posed a challenge.
11:30	Mid-latitude magnetic field perturbations and geomagnetically induced currents during the 07-08 September 2017 geomagnetic storm	Clilverd, M et al.	Oral
	Mark A. Clilverd[1], Craig J. Rodger[2], James B. Brundell[2], Michael Dalzell[3], Ian Martin[3], Daniel H. Mac Manus[2], Neil R. Thomson[2], Tanja Petersen[4], Yuki Obana[5], Ellen Clarke[6], Alan Thomson[6], Gemma Richardson[6], Rachel-Louise.Bailey[7], Yaroslav Sakharov[8], Vasilii Selivanov[9], Finlay MacLeod[10], Ian Frame [10] and Mervyn Freeman[1]
	[1] British Antarctic Survey (UKRI-NERC), Cambridge, United Kingdom, [2] Department of Physics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, [3] Transpower New Zealand Limited, New Zealand, [4] GNS Science, New Zealand, [5] Osaka Electro-Communication University, Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan, [6] British Geological Survey (NERC), Edinburgh, United Kingdom, [7] Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik, Vienna, Austria, [8] Polar Geophysical Institute, Apatity, Russia, [9] Center for Physical-Technical Problems of Energy, Kola Science Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, [10] Scottish Power Energy Networks, Glasgow, Scotland.
	A long-lasting, and intense period of Geomagnetically Induced Current (GIC) was detected in the Halfway Bush substation in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand, as a result of intense geomagnetic storm activity during 07-08 September 2017. Lasting about 30 minutes in duration the GIC was detected about 12 hours after the geomagnetic storm shock arrival. Nearby and more distant magnetometers showed differences in their measurements of the magnetic field perturbations during these two times, suggesting the influence of small-scale ionospheric current structures close to the mid-latitude Dunedin substation. In the vicinity of Dunedin's sister city, i.e., Edinburgh in Scotland, the most intense GIC levels were seen 18 hours after the solar wind shock arrival. In this study we analyse magnetic field data from mid-latitude sites around the world to better understand the large-scale and smaller scale current structures that were developed during the storm interval, and compare GIC observations in the context of these global pictures. We address the question of why these delayed magnetospheric storming events are so significant for electrical power systems at mid-latitudes.
11:45	The magnetospheric and ionospheric contribution to Geomagnetically Induced Currents during the September 6, 2017 Geomagnetic Storm.	D'angelo, G et al.	Oral
	Giulia D’Angelo[1], Simone Di Matteo[2,5], Brett. A. Carter[3], Julie Currie[3], Mirko Piersanti[4,5]
	[1]INAF-Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Via Fosso del Cavaliere, Rome, Italy., [2]Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Italy., [3]SPACE Research Centre, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia., [4]National Institute of Nuclear Physics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy., [5] Consorzio Area di Ricerca in Astrogeofisica, L'Aquila, Italy.
	The impact of the interplanetary shock and of the Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) on the Earth’s magnetosphere perturbs the geomagnetic field causing the occurrence of geomagnetic storms. Such extremely variable geomagnetic fields trigger geomagnetic effects measurable not only in the geospace but also in the ionosphere and at the ground. The rapid variations of the geomagnetic fields during geomagnetic storms generate intense geomagnetically induced currents (GICs). In recent years, GIC impact on the power networks at middle and low latitudes has attracted attention due to the expansion of large-scale power networks into these regions. In this work we analyzed the magnetospheric and ionospheric response to the September 6, 2017 geomagnetic storm. Using the Piersanti et al. [2016] model on magnetic field measurements from ground station at low and high latitude, we reconstructed the global ionospheric current flow pattern separating the magnetospheric and ionospheric contribution to the magnetic field perturbations. Using the local magnetic field measurements and a 3D ground conductivity model (Alekseev et al., 2015), we also reconstructed the geoelectric field of magnetospheric and ionospheric origin paying attention to the respective contribution from low to high latitude. The study also indicated that the eastward component of the geoelectric field is dominant for low-latitude locations during the Storm Sudden Commencements related to the impact of the interplanetary shock preceding the interplanetary CME. For some magnetotelluric station, the availability of the electric field measurements allowed a direct comparison with the predicted geoelectric field. For these cases, we obtain correlation coefficients as high as 0.92 and 0.95.
12:00	GIC modelling and mitigation of New Zealand’s electrical transmission network during extreme geomagnetic storms.	Mac manus, D et al.	Oral
	Daniel H. Mac Manus[1], Craig J. Rodger[1], Michael Dalzell[2], Tim Divett[1], and Tanja Peterson[3]
	[1] Department of Physics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand, [2] Transpower New Zealand Limited, Wellington, New Zealand, [3] GNS Science, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
	During Space Weather events, geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) can be induced in high-voltage transmission networks. This can damage transformers within substations, potentially resulting in them becoming non-operational and disrupting electrical supply to customers. To model the expected impact of GICs we have developed a transformer-level representation of the New Zealand transmission network using detailed DC resistances provided by our national grid operator. This required utilising the transmission line and transformer winding direct current resistance along with correctly identifying the earthed transformers to produce the most accurate grid model possible. The transmission network representation was combined with a thin-sheet conductance model using a layered resistivity structure to calculate electric fields, and hence determine the magnitude of the GIC. The validation of the model was described at ESWW15, and involved comparisons between model output and GIC observed at tens of different transformers located in New Zealand's South Island. We will present the modelled GIC during a worst-case extreme geomagnetic storm employing a spatial and time varying magnetic field. The results show the distribution of peak GICs throughout the network, highlighting the importance of transformer-level modelling and the need for accurate knowledge of network resistances. Mitigation plans have been developed to reduce GICs at transformers identified to be at an elevated risk in an attempt to keep the network operational. This including identifying lines and transformers that can be disconnected with limited impact on the distribution of power throughout the network. A key aspect of this involves simulating the effects of neutral blocking device (NBD) installed on transformers to block GIC and prevent GIC related damage to transformers. Severe storms similar in reading to the Hydro-Quebec event of 1989 are modelled to represent 1-in-50 year events. Our work is being undertaken in collaboration with New Zealand's national grid operator, Transpower New Zealand. They are seeking research-informed mitigation plans to reduce the impacts of an extreme geomagnetic storm.
12:15	Validating GIC models with line current measurements using the Differential Magnetometer Method	Beggan, C et al.	Oral
	Ciaran Beggan, Juliane Huebert, Gemma Richardson, Alan Thomson
	British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, UK
	Space weather poses a hazard to grounded electrical infrastructure such as high voltage (HV) transformers, through the induction of geomagnetically induced currents (GIC). Modelling GIC requires knowledge of the source magnetic field and the Earth’s electrical conductivity structure, in order to calculate the electric fields generated during geomagnetic storms, as well as knowledge of the topology and resistance parameters of the HV network. Direct measurement of GIC at the ground neutral in substations is possible, for example using a Hall-effect probe, but this is not widely done. To validate our HV network model, we use the Differential Magnetometer Method (DMM), measuring GIC at several locations in the UK power grid. We present the design and initial deployment of the first differential magnetometer method (DMM) systems in the UK. For the first time in the UK, we have successfully detected geomagnetically induced currents in the 400 kV high voltage power network. During 2018, DMM systems were installed at four locations within the power grid and captured data during two large geomagnetic storms. Line GIC data recorded at Whiteadder in eastern Scotland during August 2018 were compared to data from a Hall probe at the near-by substation at Torness. The measured GIC from the line and the Hall probe show excellent temporal correlation, though with significant differences in amplitude, as line measurements with DMM and Hall probes capture complementary views of GIC flow in the network. Data from a second storm in November 2018 were captured at four sites along the eastern side of the UK. These show a general decrease in line currents with lower latitude. Using an updated model of the HV network, we show that the measured GIC match the expected modelled values. We are continuing the deployment of the DMM systems across the UK to validate and refine numerical modelling of GIC in the entire network.

Tuesday November 19, 17:15 - 18:30, Rogier

17:15	On the dynamical properties of geomagnetic indices for Space Weather purposes	Alberti, T et al.	Invited Oral
	Tommaso Alberti
	INAF – Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali, Roma, Italy
	The Earth’s magnetosphere is characterized by dynamical complexity resulting from the interaction of different multiscale processes, which can be both directly driven/triggered by changes of the interplanetary medium condition, and due to internal processes of the magnetosphere. Recently, it has been shown that the fluctuations at distinct timescales of some geomagnetic indices differently respond to interplanetary changes during geomagnetic storms. In detail, using an information theory based approach it has been shown that geomagnetic indices fluctuations occurring at long timescales (typically longer than 200 min, i.e., characterizing the slow dynamical fluctuations) are correlated with physical quantities characterizing the changes of the interplanetary conditions, while the short timescale ones (typically shorter than 200 min, i.e., characterizing the fast dynamical fluctuations) do not seem to be directly related to the same physical quantities. Here, we investigate the nature and character of the scale-to-scale fluctuations of different geomagnetic indices, like SYM-H, AE and ASY-H, capable of monitoring different geomagnetic current systems (or parts of them) related to the occurrence of geomagnetic storms and substorms, using quantitative characteristics originating from the theory of dynamical systems. In particular, we study the dependence on the timescale of the correlation dimension D2 and the Kolmogorov entropy K2 for the indices’ fluctuations, showing the signatures of a topological transition phenomenon in the character of fast and slow dynamical fluctuations, and a significant decrease of the forecast horizon of fluctuations at timescales shorter than 200 min. Furthermore, by investigating the phase space trajectories at different characteristic timescales we show that the fast dynamics is characterized by complicated recurrence patterns exhibiting various types of structures, indicating complex variability (i.e., manifesting a chaotic behaviour and dynamical complexity), while the slow one seems to be characterized by a more regular dynamics as a response to external forcing. Our results can open new perspectives in the framework of Space Weather modelling and forecasting.
17:45	The Contribution of Sudden Commencements to the Rate of Change of the Surface Magnetic Field in the UK	Smith, A et al.	Oral
	A. W. Smith[1], I. J. Rae[1], C. Forsyth[1], M. P. Freeman[2]
	[1]MSSL/UCL, [2]British Antarctic Survey
	Rapid changes in the surface geomagnetic field can induce potentially damaging currents in conductors on the ground; this is a critical consideration for the operation of power networks. In this work we investigate how sudden commencements (SCs), associated with sharp increases in solar wind dynamic pressure, impact the (one minute) rate of change of the horizontal magnetic field (R) recorded by three UK based ground stations. We find that though SCs last for a very small fraction of the total time, up to $8\%$ of the most extreme R is accounted for at the lowest latitude station. At higher latitudes the proportion is much lower at approximately $1\%$. Sudden commencements are also related to other magnetospheric phenomena, geomagnetic storms for example. We explore how the distribution of R changes over time following sudden compressions. We find that the probability of observing large R is greatly enhanced for 3 days after a SC. In the 24 hours following a SC it is 10 times more likely than normal to observe a rate of change of 100nTmin-1. Additionally, between $85$ and $98\%$ of data (depending on station) over 50nTmin-1 is recorded within three days of a SC. Further, subdividing the sudden compressions into sudden storm commencements (SSCs) and sudden impulses (SI), shows that SSCs in particular are related to much larger R. These results suggest that accurately predicting sudden commencements is important to identify intervals during which the UK power network is at risk from GICs.
18:00	Using PC indices to predict violent GIC events threatening power grids	Stauning, P et al.	Oral
	Peter Stauning
	Danish Meteorological Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark
	Earlier investigations have used the Polar Cap (PC) indices to demonstrate the close relation of GIC-related power grid disturbances to enhanced PC index levels (e.g., Stauning, 2012, 2018). A remarkable feature of most of the examined cases is the lengthy intervals, ranging up to several hours, of PC index values elevated above “alert level” (10 mV/m), preceding GIC-related power grid disruptions. The main reason for this feature is considered to be the time it takes the enhanced merging processes at the front of the magnetosphere, and the subsequent transpolar convection of plasma and embedded magnetic fields into the tail region, to shift the substorm processes responsible for violent GIC events to the subauroral latitudes where the vulnerable power grids reside. It is concluded that the PC indices, if available on-line in real-time, may provide advance warning with lead times of several hours, of major substorm-related GIC events that may threaten vulnerable power grids in North America and Northern Europe.
18:15	Effects of GIC on pipelines: geomagnetic storms and high speed streams	Trichtchenko, L et al.	Oral
	Larisa trichtchenko
	Natural Resources Canada
	Geomagnetically induced (telluric) currents are the natural phenomena especially pronounced in the high latitude areas (above 60 degrees). These currents, as any stray current, are able to interfere with the pipeline cathodic protections system, and came into wide consideration with construction of pipelines in the northern areas, where the geomagnetic variations are more severe and lasts for a prolonged times. The paper will compare the impacts of geomagnetic storms and more prolonged periods of the high speed solar wind streams. The expected associated variability of the currents and voltages on pipeline and modelled cumulative corrosion effects will be modelled using the Distributed Source Transmission line model for a “test” (model) pipeline virtually placed at different locations. Results will be discussed in regard to impacts on the pipeline exposed to GIC during multiple years of operations, with the evaluation of corrosion rates under different conditions.

Posters

1	Preliminary investigation of the possibility of GIC development in Greece	Boutsi, A et al.	p-Poster
	Adamantia Zoe Boutsi[1,2], Georgios Balasis[1], Ioannis A. Daglis[2]
	[1] Institute for Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Applications and Remote Sensing, National Observatory of Athens, Greece, [2] Section of Astrophysics, Astronomy and Mechanics, Department of Physics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
	Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GIC) constitute an integral part of the space weather research and 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. The HellENIc GeoMagnetic Array (ENIGMA) is a network of 4 ground-based magnetometer stations in the areas of Thessaly, Central Greece, Peloponnese and Crete in Greece that provides geomagnetic measurements for the study of pulsations, resulting from the solar wind - magnetosphere coupling. ENIGMA magnetometer array enables effective remote sensing of geospace dynamics and the study of space weather effects on the ground (i.e. GIC). ENIGMA contributes data to SuperMAG, a worldwide collaboration of organizations and national agencies that currently operate approximately 300 ground-based magnetometers. In this presentation, we exploit ENIGMA data in order to study the spatio-temporal variations of the geomagnetic field that emanate during active geospace conditions. Moreover, we investigate the possibility that these variations produce hazardous currents and provide an estimation of their intensity, focusing on specific strong magnetic storms.
2	Assessing the importance of variability in Electric field and conductance for the generation of GIC	Kavanagh, A et al.	p-Poster
	Andrew J Kavanagh[1,2], Yasunobu Ogawa[3]
	[1] British Antarctic Survey, UK, [2] Visiting scientist at RALSpace, UK, [3] National Institute for Polar Research, Japan
	Space Weather activity drives ionospheric electric currents, which are a convolution of the structure of the electric field and Pedersen and Hall conductivities. There is evidence that the meso-scale structure of the currents is important in terms of the rate of change of the surface horizontal magnetic field (dH/dt); this is a proxy for geomagnetically induced currents (GIC). Thus it is important to determine the relative importance of the variabilities of the electric field and conductivity. Data from the European Incoherent Scatter (EISCAT) UHF Radar are used to examine the relationship between local electric field and ionospheric conductance in the context of different local times and different levels of geomagnetic activity. Consequently we see how the variability of these two parameters influences the local current and how it relates to independent measurements of dH/dt. This is measured by the IMAGE magnetometer chain, which surrounds the EISCAT radar. Thus we can establish whether the variability in the electric field or conductivity is more important for driving dH/dt.
3	1-D model of geomagnetically induced currents in the mexican power grid	Gonzalez esparza, J et al.	p-Poster
	Ramon Caraballo[1,2], Americo Gonzalez-Esparza[2], Maria Sergeeva[2,3], Carlos Pacheco[4]
	[1] Posgrado en Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, [2] SCIESMEX-LANCE, Instituto de Geofısica, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, [3] CONACYT, SCIESMEX-LANCE, Instituto de Geofısica, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, [4] Gerencia de Ingenierıa Especializada, Comision Federal de Electricidad
	This study presents the first assessment on the impact of geomagnetically induced curents (GIC) on the 400 kV power grid of Mexico. As a first approach, we modeled the GIC using a 1D conductive structure for the entire Mexican territory and a spatially uniform geomagnetic disturbance. Power grid data was provided by the national electric operator of Mexico and the geophysical data was inferred from to the main features of the Mexican geology. We modeled the response of the power grid for four geomagnetic storms in solar cycles 23 and 24 (i.e., July 15, 2000; October 29, 2003; March 17, 2015; and September 7, 2017), and also during a worst case scenario (Carrington-like event). The results obtained for the four previous magnetic storms show that the Mexican power grid can be affected by GIC ranging 20-75 A under geomagnetic active times. According to the model, the coastal and sites located close to the ends of the network may experiment large GIC levels during times intervals between 3 and 8 hs, depending on the severity of the magnetic storm. Furthermore, the most compromised sites pointed by the results have economic and strategic value for the country. In the case of a Carrington-like event, the power grid could be affected by GICs ranging 25-150 A if a 1V/km geoelectric field pointing in the E-W direction occurs. Such kind of event might produce extreme distortions on the HV hardware (i.e., transformers, static VAR compensators, etc.) leading to generalized blackouts in the worst case.
4	Very low likelihood of a power grid black-out in Belgium during an extremely severe geomagnetic storm	Janssens, J et al.	p-Poster
	Jan Janssens
	Solar-Terrestrial Centre of Excellence (STCE)
	Context. The STCE regularly gets questions from the broad public and space weather (SWx) end users on the probability of a power grid black-out in Belgium during a strong geomagnetic storm. In a recent report analysing black-outs and strong disturbances of the Belgian power grid, Elia, Belgium's main high-voltage transmission system operator, mentioned not a single SWx-related event during the period 1977-2017. At most, during the strongest geomagnetic storms, they noted some mild fluctuations on the grid which were easily handled. Aims. This study compares the variations in the magnetic field in Belgium during strong geomagnetic storms with those from other magnetometer stations in the European sector, thereby putting them in perspective against a series of magnetic field fluctuations which are known to have caused failures and great disturbances in the power grid at more northern latitudes. Methodology. First, for the period 1996-2017, a list of 179 days with strong geomagnetic storms was compiled (Kp >= 7). Then, a dozen of magnetometer stations in the European sector were selected from the Intermagnet database (http://www.intermagnet.org/ ). Belgium is represented by the geomagnetic observatory in Dourbes (geomagnetic latitude: + 51°). For each station and each storm day, the maximum "rate of change" dB/dt was determined in both the x- and y-direction of the H-component of the Earth's magnetic field. "dB/dt" is considered to be proportional to the GIC, but the measured GIC-value depends also on the local conductivity of the Earth's surface, the lay-out of the power grid,... The maximum of the absolute values of dB/dt was determined per station and per storm day, and the average calculated for each Kp. A distinction has been made between Kp = 9- en 9o, as the differences in dB/dt were relatively large. Finally, based on reports from 8 important GIC-events (2 in Canada, 5 in Sweden, 1 in China) during the 1972-2015 period, the dB/dt level was determined (1) for which black-outs/transformer damage happened (1972, 1989 and 2003), (2) when severe disturbances of the power grid happened, and (3) for what could be considered as "relatively" minor disturbances. Result. The analysis clearly shows that Belgium has a near zero probability for a power grid failure similar to Québec in 1989. Maximum dB/dt values in Dourbes should be at least 4 to 5 times higher than those recorded during the Halloween storms in October 2003, i.e. 550 nT/min vs. the recorded 110 nT/min.
5	Implementation of the system for monitoring, processing, analyzing and forecasting the geomagnetic activity within the Surlari Observatory	Asimopolos, L et al.	p-Poster
	Asimopolos Laurentiu [1], Bogdan Balea-Roman [1], Asimopolos Natalia-Silvia [1], Asimopolos Adrian-Aristide [2]
	[1] Geological Institute of Romania 1st Caransebeş Street, 012271 - Bucharest, Romania. [2] University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest Faculty of Transports, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 - Bucharest, Romania.
	Surlari Geomagnetic Observatory (SUA, its acronym in INTERMAGNET network) is a partner in the complex project No.16 / 2018: "Institutional capacities and services for research, monitoring and forecasting of risks in extra-atmospheric space", the second component project "Space weather". In our paper we present the design of the architecture of the functional segments of the geomagnetic activity monitoring and forecasting service. The server of observatory, with Linux Debian operating system, have in the tree structure of directories and subdirectories, workspaces dedicated to the two acquisition systems (each formed by a FGE triaxial fluxgate magnetometer and a MAGDALOG acquisition system). From the informations monitored and stored on the server, we mention: triaxial components of the magnetic field monitored with 2 Hz frequency with two FGE magnetometers, the total magnetic field monitored at 5 seconds with the Overhausser GSM magnetometer, one minute averaged values, the baseline level for the final data and the control system elements of the procurement system. In addition, we included in the server and in the WEB domain, dedicated for the project, functional elements for the analysis and prognosis of geomagnetic storms. In addition, we have implemented on a Project-based WEB Server, a database and a website to store and display structured, functional elements for geomagnetic storm analysis and prognosis. The database is implemented together with MariaDB, a relational database management system that updates automatically through cron jobs. The website is implemented on a CMS - WordPress platform. Due to the benefits of CMS, the web interface offers plenty of benefits for sharing content with the community. Additionally, the database integrates directly on the WordPress website with the wpDataTables plug-in. With this plug-in, all relevant information and data, data search filters, graphics and other items of interest are displayed and implemented. The CMS platform for presenting results is thus an optimal solution for creating a powerful web interface for displaying the results of a research. Thus, we introduced the spectral and wavelet analysis module, the tri-hour geomagnetic indices calculation module and the machine learning forecasting module. Recently we have implemented the functional segments within the modernized system for monitoring, processing, analyzing and forecasting the geomagnetic activity of the Surlari Observatory.
6	Correlation analysis of field-aligned currents measured by Swarm	Dunlop, M et al.	p-Poster
	J.-Y. Yang[1], M. W. Dunlop[1, 2, 7], M. Freeman[3], N. Rogers[4], J. A. Wild[4], J. Rae[5], J.-B. Cao[1], H. Lühr[6], C. Xiong[6]
	[1]School of Space and Environment, Beihang University, 100191, Beijing, China.2RAL_Space, STFC, Chilton, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK (*Email: m.w.dunlop@rl.ac.uk)., [3]British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK., [4]Department of Physics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YB, UK., [5]Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6NT, UK., [6]GFZ, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Telegrafenberg, 14473 Potsdam, Germany, [7]The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
	The orientation of field-aligned current sheets (FACs) can be inferred from dual-spacecraft correlations of the FAC signatures between two Swarm spacecraft (A and C), using the maximum correlations obtained from sliding data segments. Statistical analysis of both the correlations and the inferred orientations shows clear trends in magnetic local time (MLT) which reveal behaviour of both large and small scale currents. The maximum correlation coefficients show distinct behaviour in terms of either the time shift, or the shift in longitude between Swarm A and C for various filtering levels. The low-latitude FACs show the strongest correlations for a broad range of MLT centred on dawn and dusk, with a higher correlation coefficient on the dusk-side and lower correlations near noon and midnight. The current sheet orientations are shown to broadly follow the mean shape of the auroral boundary for the lower latitudes corresponding to Region 2 FACs and that these are most well-ordered on the dusk side. Together with these correlation trends, individual events have also been sampled by higher altitude spacecraft in conjunction with Swarm (mapping both to region 1 and 2), showing that two different domains of FACs are apparent: small-scale (some tens of km) which are time variable and large-scale (>100 km) which are rather stationary. We investigate further how these FAC regimes are dependent on geomagnetic activity, focusing on high activity events. The trends found here for different activities are compared to effects seen in the ground magnetometer signals (dH/dt) during storm/substorm activity.
7	Comparative and wavelet analysis of geomagnetic data from observatories in INTERMAGNET network, recorded during geomagnetic storms	Asimopolos, N et al.	p-Poster
	Asimopolos Natalia-Silvia [1], Asimopolos Laurentiu [1], Bogdan Balea-Roman [1], Asimopolos Adrian-Aristide [2]
	[1] Geological Institute of Romania 1st Caransebeş Street, 012271 - Bucharest, Romania [2] University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest Faculty of Transports, 313 Splaiul Independentei, 060042 - Bucharest, Romania
	The purpose of this study was to analyze the associated spectrum of geomagnetic field, frequencies intensity and the time of occurrence. We calculated the variation of the correlation coefficients, with mobile windows of various sizes, for the recorded magnetic components at different latitudes and latitudes. The observatories we included in our study are Surlari (USA), Honolulu (HON), Scott Base (SBA), Kakioka (KAK), Tihany (THY), Uppsala (UPS), Wingst (WNG) and Yellowknife ). We used the data of these observatories from INTERMAGNET for the geomagnetic storm from October 28-31, 2003. We have used for this purpose a series of filtering algorithms, spectral analysis and wavelet with different mather functions at different levels. In the paper, we show the Fourier and wavelet analysis of geomagnetic data recorded at different observatories regarding geomagnetic storms. Fourier analysis hightlight predominant frequencies of magnetic field components. Wavelet analysis provides information about the frequency ranges of magnetic fields, which contain long time intervals for medium frequency information and short time intervals for highlight frequencies, details of the analyzed signals. Also, the wavelet analysis allows us to decompose geomagnetic signals in different waves. The analyzes presented are significant for the studied of the geomagnetic storm. The data for the next days after the storm showed a mitigation of the perturbations and a transition to a quiet days of the geomagnetic field. In both, the Fourier Transformation and the Wavelet Transformation, transformation evaluation involves the calculation of a scalar product between the analyzed signal and a set of signals that form a particular base in the vector space of the finite energy signals. Fourier representation use and orthogonal vectors base, whereas in the case of wavelet there is the possibility to use also bases consisting of independent linear non-orthogonal vectors. Unlike the Fourier transform, which depends only on a single parameter, wavelet transform type depends on two parameters, a and b. As a result, the graphical representation of the spectrum is different, wavelet analysis bringing more information about geomagnetic pattern of each observatory with that own speciffic conditions.
8	Geomagnetic induced currents in Southwest Portugal	Pinheiro, F et al.	p-Poster
	Fernando J. G. Pinheiro[1], Joana Alves Ribeiro[1] Fernando A. Monteiro Santos[2], Maria Alexandra Pais[1,3], Anna Morozova[1], Paulo Ribeiro[1], Yvelice Castillo[4], Cristiana Francisco[3], João Fernandes[1,5]
	(1) Centro de Investigação da Terra e do Espaço da Universidade de Coimbra, Geophysical and Astronomical Observatory, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal, (2) Instituto Dom Luiz, Faculdade de Ciências, Lisbon University, Lisbon, Portugal, (3) Department of Physics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal, (4) Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, National Autonomous University of Honduras, Tegucigalpa, (5) Department of Mathematics, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal,
	Geomagnetic storms are known to induce electric fields in the Earth’s crust and mantle which are the source of GICs. Though the most hazardous events have been reported at high latitudes, there has been account of GICs at mid-latitudes. For this reason, countries such as Ireland, Spain, Austria, Greece, China and Japan (just to mention the Northern Hemisphere) have been evaluating the impact of GICs in their territory. Portugal is also giving its first steps in this field. MAG-GIC is a project funded by the Portuguese Science Foundation aiming to assess the potential hazard of GICs on the national high voltage power grid. This project involves a collaboration with REN - the Portuguese power distribution company. In this presentation we show preliminary calculations of the geoelectric fields generated at the surface during the strongest geomagnetic storms recorded at Coimbra magnetic observatory (COI) during solar cycle 24. The geomagnetic observations at COI are complemented with simulations from the Tsyganenko-Sitnov TS05 model, which is a useful tool for separating the contributions from different magnetospheric current systems, helping to achieve a better insight of the phenomena involved. Our analysis takes into account impedance matrices computed using local magnetotelluric observations. In this way, we can account for the specific geology below the high-voltage power network and also for the proximity of the ocean. Finally, we provide our first estimations of the expected GIC values based on REN’s account of transformer stations located across Southwest Portugal, the region with the scarcest distribution of transformer stations.
9	Geomagnetically induced currents and electrical grid failures in Poland during solar cycle 24	Gil, A et al.	p-Poster
	A. Gil[1,2], R. Modzelewska[1], Sz. Moskwa[3], A. Siluszyk[1], M. Siluszyk[1], and A. Wawrzynczak[4]
	1. Siedlce University, Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Mathematics and Physics, Siedlce, Poland; 2. Space Research Center, Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw, Poland; 3. AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Department of Electrical and Power Engineering, Krakow, Poland; 4. Siedlce University, Faculty of Sciences, Institute of Computer Sciences, Siedlce, Poland
	Geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) generated during the solar- driven geomagnetic field’s disturbances can be very harmful to electrical infrastructure. The most prominent manifestation of this impact was the blackout in the Hydro-Quebec system on 13 March 1989. Since than in connection to GIC, there were noticed various disruptions and failures, but none of them didn’t affected so many people. The largest GIC ever measured in transformers, being ~300 A, appeared on 6 April 2000 in Sweden (Wik et al., 2009).\\ Here we study links between computed GIC and failures occurring in transmission lines in Poland during the solar cycle 24. We analyze tens of thousands of electrical grids failures (EGF), which are not caused by the meteorological conditions and other objective reasons, showing that there exist direct connections between solar-driven effects and EGF.
10	The influence of substorms on extreme rates of change of the surface horizontal magnetic field in the U.K. and at other latitudes	Freeman, M et al.	p-Poster
	Mervyn P. Freeman[1], Colin Forsyth[2], I. Jonathan Rae[2], Andrew W. Smith[2]
	[1] British Antarctic Survey, [2] Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London
	We investigate how statistical properties of the rate of change R of the surface horizontal magnetic field differ during substorm expansion and recovery phases compared with other times. R is calculated from one-minute magnetic field data from the three U.K. INTERMAGNET observatories – Lerwick, Eskdalemuir, and Hartland, and between 1996 and 2014 – nearly two solar cycles. Substorm expansion and recovery phases are identified from the SML index using the SOPHIE method. The probability distribution of R is decomposed into categories of whether during substorm expansion and recovery phases, in enhanced convection intervals, or at other times. From this, we find that 54-56% of all extreme R values (defined as above the 99.97th percentile) occur during substorm expansion or recovery phases. By similarly decomposing the MLT variation of the occurrence of large R values (> 99th percentile), we deduce that 21-25% of large R during substorm expansion and recovery phases are attributable to the DP1 magnetic perturbation caused by the substorm current wedge. This corresponds to 10-14% of all large R in the entire dataset. These results, together with asymptotic trends in occurrence probabilities, may indicate the two-cell DP2 magnetic perturbation caused by magnetospheric convection as the dominant source of hazardous R > 600 nT/min. The analysis is currently being extended to lower and higher latitudes in Europe with initial results showing broadly similar behaviour, the details of which will be reported in the conference presentation.
11	Standalone Geomagnetically Induced Current Data Logger in Substation Transformers with Open-Loop Hall-Effect Based Sensors	Pais, M et al.	p-Poster
	João Cardoso[1], Miguel Silva[1], Maria Alexandra Pais[2]
	[1] LIBPhys-UC, Department of Physics, University of Coimbra, R. Larga, 3004-516, Coimbra, Portugal [2] CITEUC, Department of Physics, University of Coimbra, R. Larga, 3004-516, Coimbra, Portugal
	Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) are produced as a result of the interaction of ionized particles and magnetic field of plasma clouds, ejected from the Sun, with the Earth’s magnetic field. Large resulting perturbations of the Earth’s magnetic field, called geomagnetic storms, induce currents in the electrically conducting crust and mantle. These currents also flow on the Earth’s surface and are shunt through low electrical resistance paths such as railroads, communication lines, metal pipes or electric power transmission lines. Although geomagnetic field disturbances are in the order of tens of nT per minute, hence producing mostly low frequency components, GICs can reach large nominal values of tens or even hundreds of Ampere, which can damage both the transmission infrastructure and the electrical system equipment (mostly power transformers) and, in extreme cases, lead to power outages over large regions. Real-time GICs monitoring is thus mandatory to the decision-making process in order to prevent power grid failures. Besides, a comprehensive knowledge of the GICs profiles allows to test and optimize simulation models, at specific points of the transport network. GICs enter and leave the power grid through the neutral grounding of power transformers, and can be measured at these locations. A standalone data logger for quasi-DC GIC signals is proposed, based on an open-loop Hall effect current transducer (LEM HOP 1000-SB) that monitors the current driven by the ground loop in a HV substation transformer. The instrument is based on an open-source Raspberry Pi 2 Model B 1.2 with a high resolution 24-bit digitizer shield (AD-DA board based on an ADS1256 8-channel converter). This modular networked platform allows easy Python 2.7/3.7 scripting along with a group of easily interfaceable web services. Data is continuously stored to an InfluxDB streaming time-series database and directly presented on a fully customizable dashboard (Grafana) which operates as a web-server for data visualization. This instrument, enclosed on an IP65 housing, is designed to be a low-power module with minimal local interface, but easily accessible from a network connection.
13	The substorm influence on geomagnetically induced currents registered at electric power lines	Belakhovsky, V et al.	p-Poster
	Belkhovsky V.B.[1], Pilipenko V.A.[2,3], Sakharov Ya.A.[1],Kozyreva O.V.[3],Selivanov V.N.[4]
	1 – Polar Geophysical Institute, Apatity 2 – Geophysical Center, Moscow 3 – Institute of Physics of the Earth, Moscow 4 – Kola Scientific Center RAS, Apatity
	In this study we examine the features of the influence of geomagnetic substorms on the generation of geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) recorded in electric power lines of Kola Peninsula and Karelia (Russia). The continuous registrations of GICs in this system are performed since 2010. The registration system includes 5 stations elongated in the north-south direction. The GIC observations are augmented by the magnetometer data from near-by IMAGE stations and information on impedance tensors of the Eastern Fennoscandian Shield from the electromagnetic deep sounding array BEAR. We compare the spectral content of geomagnetic, telluric, and GIC variations. The frequency-dependent geoelectric response of the crust results in the suppression of high-frequency component in the GIC spectrum as compared with dB/dt variations. It was commonly believed that the auroral electrojet is a main driver of GIC at high latitudes. On the base of this notion it is considered that GIC is dangerous only for the east-west elongated technological systems. However, more detailed analysis of the GIC, B, and dB/dt variations shows that a dominant contribution to bursts of GIC is provided by small-scale vortex-type ionospheric current structures. So, the GIC are dangerous for the technological systems elongated in north-south direction as well. Contrary to common point of view, it is found for some substorms that noticeable GICs are better correlated with geomagnetic field variations B than with variations of dB/dt. Large GIC values may be caused not only by the temporal variations of the geomagnetic field but also by the spatial variation of the vortex-like ionosphere current systems driven by magnetospheric field-aligned currents. The analysis of the spatial distribution of the geomagnetic field variations and dB/dt shows that its maximums do not coincide in latitude-MLT coordinated. The maximum amplitude of the geomagnetic field disturbances does not match the maximum of GIC.
14	Statistical analysis of geomagnetic storms by CIR in solar cycle 24	Sejin, C et al.	p-Poster
	Sejin Cho[1], R.S Kim[2], Y Yi[2]
	Chungnam Univ, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, Chungnam Univ
	The interaction between the solar wind and the Earth's magnetosphere is complex, and analyzing and forecasting it is important for space weather.　Geomagnetic storms have been mostly dominated by CME, but in the current solar cycle, the number of events such as CIR and HCS other than CME is higher. CIR is a region of compressed slow solar winds, which are preceded by high-speed solar winds generated at Corona Hall, and are high-speed, high-density solar winds that reach the earth. All geomagnetic storm events with a G-SCALE is greater than 1 (KP index> = 5) from 2010 to 2018 were classified into CIR, ICME, HCS and other events. We analyzed 103 events classified as CIR events. Data used is coronal hole position and area in the sun, strength of magnetic field, solar wind information in the Earth's magnetosphere and geomagnetic indices. As a result, CIR events were the most dominant in the current solar cycle, and it was possible to predict some of the CIR effects of geomagnetic storms depending on the area and location of the Coronal hole.
15	ESA’s Geomagnetic Expert Service Centre is Alive Again	Hesse, M et al.	p-Poster
	Michael Hesse[1], Therese Jorgensen[1], Jon-Thøger Hagen[1], Norah Kwagala[1], Nils Olsen[2], Poul Erik Holmdahl[2], Susanne Vennerstrøm[2], Anna Naemi Willer[2], Magnus Wik[3], Peter Wintoft[3], Claudia Stolle[4], Guram Kervalishvili[4], Kirsti Kauristi[5], Ari Viljanen[5], Consuelo Cid[6], Alan Thomson[7], Ellen Clarke[7], Jesse Andries[8], Raisa Elina Leussu[9], Chris Hall[9], Hermann Opgenoorth[10], Per Høeg[11]
	[1]Space Plasma Physics Group, University of Bergen, Norway, [2]Danish Technical University, Copenhagen, Denmark, [3] IRF Lund, Lund, Sweden, [4]GFZ, Potsdam, Germany, [5]FMI, Helsinki, Finland, [6]University of Alcala, Spain, [7]BGS, Edinburgh, UK, [8]ROB, Brussels, Belgium, [9]TGO, University of Tromsø, Norway, [10]Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden, [11]University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
	August 2019 marks the restart of ESA’s Geomagnetic Expert Service Centre (G-ESC). The G-ESC was reformed on the basis of the former partnership and expanded by additional extremely valuable capabilities. Further, the coordinator role has been assumed by the Space Plasma Physics Group at UiB, ably assisted by the partners at the Danish Technical University in the Deputy role. The days since the kickoff at the end of August have been marked by numerous startup activities, and rapid progress toward full product delivery is apparent. In this poster presentation we present an overview of the G-ESC status. Furthermore, we discuss development plans, and finish with a vision for the future.
16	Modelling directionality, seasonality, and local time dependences in extreme geomagnetic field fluctuations	Wild, J et al.	p-Poster
	Neil C. Rogers[1], James A. Wild[1], Emma F. Eastoe[2]
	[1]Physics Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK, [2]Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
	In this poster we describe a statistical analysis of extreme temporal changes in the horizontal component of the geomagnetic field (dB/dt) – an important indicator of geomagnetically induced currents. Extreme value theory is applied to data from 125 magnetometers in the global SuperMAG archive – with an average of 28 years of measurements per site – to determine return levels (RL) of |dB/dt| expected over periods of 100 years or more. This is achieved by fitting generalized Pareto (GP) distributions to declustered measurements of |dB/dt| above a 99.97-percentile threshold. Since large fluctuations are driven by diverse magneto-ionospheric driving processes (substorm expansions, sudden commencements, Pc5 ULF waves, etc.), the occurrence rate and high percentiles of |dB/dt| vary with geomagnetic latitude, magnetic local time (MLT), season, and with the compass direction of the fluctuation, dB. The interplanetary magnetic field orientation also exerts a strong influence on these patterns of occurrence, which we present alongside examples of fitted smoothing functions (splines and limited-order spherical harmonics and polynomials). By adapting statistical methods developed for the directional analysis of extreme ocean wave heights, we show how |dB/dt| GP distributions and RLs are generated for data sets sectored by compass direction (or equivalently by season, or MLT sector) and then combined and compared with GP distributions (and RLs) that ignore directionality or seasonal/diurnal variation.
17	The space weather environment before the Tenerife blackout	Cid, C et al.	p-Poster
	Consuelo Cid[1], Elena Saiz[1], A. Guerrero[1]
	(1)Space Weather Group, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
	The 29th of September 2019 the Canary Island of Tenerife was hit by a major blackout. Almost 1 million people were left without power. The entire Atlantic island was affected by the power outage, which took about 9 hours to completely recover. This presentation analyzes the space weather environment before the blackout to evaluate if solar activity may have played any role in this blackout.