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SPACE WEATHER, VOL. 3, S11002, doi:10.1029/2005SW000156, 2005

Surface electric fields and geomagnetically induced currents in the Scottish Power grid during the 30 October 2003 geomagnetic storm

Alan W. P. Thomson

British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, UK


Allan J. McKay

British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, UK


Ellen Clarke

British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, UK


Sarah J. Reay

British Geological Survey, Edinburgh, UK


Abstract

A surface electric field model is used to estimate the UK surface E field during the 30 October 2003 severe geomagnetic storm. This model is coupled with a power grid model to determine the flow of geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) through the Scottish part of the UK grid. Model data are compared with GIC measurements at four sites in the power network. During this storm, measured and modeled GIC levels exceeded 40 A, and the surface electric field reached 5 V/km at sites in the United Kingdom (compared with quiet-time levels of less than 0.1 V/km). The electric field and grid models now form part of a GIC monitoring, analysis, and warning software package with Web interface, developed for use by the grid operator. This package also contains a daily geomagnetic activity forecast service, a solar wind shock detector for geomagnetic storm warning, and a near-real-time geomagnetic data stream for storm monitoring.

Received 10 February 2005; accepted 10 August 2005; published 29 November 2005.

Keywords: geomagnetically induced currents; space weather; electrical power grids; transformers; geomagnetic storm; surface electric field.

Index Terms: 1515 Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism: Geomagnetic induction; 2788 Magnetospheric Physics: Magnetic storms and substorms (7954); 5109 Physical Properties of Rocks: Magnetic and electrical properties (0925); 7904 Space Weather: Geomagnetically induced currents; 7934 Space Weather: Impacts on technological systems.

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Citation: Thomson, A. W. P., A. J. McKay, E. Clarke, and S. J. Reay (2005), Surface electric fields and geomagnetically induced currents in the Scottish Power grid during the 30 October 2003 geomagnetic storm, Space Weather, 3, S11002, doi:10.1029/2005SW000156.