Study on Variation Rate Characters of Mid-to-Low Latitude Area Geomagnetic Field during Geomagnetic Storms

Abstract

Geomagnetic field changes acutely during geomagnetic storms. According to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, the change of the geomagnetic field produces geomagnetically induced current (GIC) in power grid, which directly damages the power equipment and threatens safe operation of power grid. The more dramatically geomagnetic field changes, the bigger geomagnetically induced current in power grid becomes, and thus, the greater harm it brings to power grid. In this paper, based on the H and D components of recent geomagnetic storm data measured by several mid-to-low latitude geomagnetic observatories, the variation law of the amplitude of north-south and east-west geomagnetic component change rate (dX/dt and dY/dt) pulse with geomagnetic latitude was analyzed when geomagnetic field changed very severely. Finally, the possibilities of power grid in different direction affected by GIC with the change of latitude were discussed. The analysis results will contribute to the evaluation, measurement and control of GIC in Chinese current and future power grid.