All articles tagged with #geomagnetically induced currents
Research reveals that the angle of interplanetary shocks against Earth's magnetic field significantly impacts the severity of geomagnetically induced currents, which can damage critical infrastructure like power grids and pipelines. Direct shocks induce stronger currents, posing greater risks. Forecasting these shocks could help mitigate potential damage.
Scientists have warned that solar storms, which are blasts of energy from the Sun, could potentially cause train accidents by disrupting rail signals. Researchers modeled how geomagnetically induced currents from solar storms could affect rail signaling systems and found that space weather events capable of triggering faults in these systems are expected in the UK every few decades. The study suggests that solar storms could flip rail signals in either direction, turning a red signal green or a green signal red, posing significant safety risks. This highlights the need to take space weather as a serious natural hazard and plan for its potential impacts on critical infrastructure.