Geomagnetic Storms: The Beauty of Auroras and the Beast for Infrastructure

by Rute Santos (CITEUC, LIBPhys-UC)

Wednesday 26 Feb 2025, 14:00 → 15:00 Portugal

Sala de Conferências (Departamento de Física FCTUC)

We are currently at the maximum of the solar cycle, a period of increased solar activity that, last year, allowed auroras to be seen in Portugal, triggered by geomagnetic storms. Besides the beauty of the auroras, geomagnetic storms pose an invisible threat to our society, as was the case with the blackout of March 1989 in Canada.  During this talk, the solar cycle and some of the most well-known geomagnetic storms will be explored highlighting their real-world consequences. A key focus will be on Geomagnetically Induced Currents and their impact on transport infrastructures, such as power grid, pipelines and railways. The measurement systems developed in the Physics Department to monitor these currents in the Portuguese power grid will also be presented, including the challenges faced during and after installation.