Full Title: Geomagnetic Storms Information Sheet
Author(s): Electric Infrastructure Security Council
Publisher(s): Electric Infrastructure Security Council
Publication Date: January 1, 2012
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
Geomagnetic Storms are caused by solar activity, when the sun ejects material – a “coronal mass ejection,” (CME) which can strike the earth, causing disruptions in the earth’s magnetic field which can lead to large ground-induced currents (GIC). Often associated with solar flares, GIC can damage electrical equipment. If large enough, depending on the CME’s magnetic field, such GICs can damage or burn out extremely high voltage transformers which are critical to keep national electric grids operating.
According to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, consequent widespread blackouts could last months or years.