Jim Griffin

Staff Scientist, AER

Early warning of the risks of space weather

By Jim Griffin
April 3, 2011

If not for a fortuitous alignment of the earth’s electromagnetic field, the sun's Valentine’s Day “gift” could have wreaked havoc on power and communications infrastructure. The geomagnetic storms that resulted were strong enough for electrical power lines to experience voltage alarms. The potential effects of space weather events are beginning to raise alarms in the re/insurance, energy, utility, communications and aviation industries.