Viewpoint: The less pleasant aspect of the captivating aurora

Viewpoint: The sinister aspect of the magnificent aurora

Only recently, a notice for a severe geomagnetic storm caught the attention of several individuals in the realms of homeland security, emergency preparedness, and business continuity plans. This so-called "extreme" solar storm was feared to be the catastrophic event that could disrupt vital functions and put lives at risk.

This fear stems from the growing concern over the potential impact of space weather or geomagnetic storms. With energy emanating from the sun, the storms can cause currents that harm various systems, potentially resulting in loss of power, water, flights, public transportation, and gas stations.

The past decade witnessed an intense urge among government agencies and industries to better prepare for these events. These efforts aimed at fortifying electricity, telecommunications, transportation, and space infrastructure to withstand the disruptive effects of space weather.

Remarkably, despite the severity of this recent geomagnetic "superstorm," the repercussions on critical infrastructures were relatively minor. Some reports indicated that power grid operators kept occupied maintaining a steady current. Other impacts included changes in GPS usage within the agriculture sector and degraded radio communication from aviation and marine operators.

The efforts to protect critical infrastructure proved advantageous, as the nation's preparation allowed for a limited impact on essential facilities. However, we should remain mindful that the consequences of following storms could be more significant and potentially disruptive.

These concerns prompted President Joe Biden to issue National Security Memorandum on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (NSM 22) in April. This policy focuses on encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors, utilizing infrastructure investments and regulatory requirements to enhance security and resilience.

Naturally, geomagnetic storms lie right at the heart of these concerns, as they're responsible for powerful currents that pose the threat of crippling infrastructure systems. In particular, policymakers express worrying about the cascading impacts of space weather, where damage to a satellite system diminishes real-time navigation capabilities, impacting transportation systems. Conversely, the solar storm's pulse effect might cause parts of the power grid to exceed their capacity, resulting in long-term disruptions and severe consequences for water systems and hospitals.

Both scenarios, while infrequent, showcase the potential for substantial disruptive effects. Hence, responsible resilience planning demands that significant events with little historical precedent be given special attention and meticulous preparation.

Since space weather became a priority issue, the Federal Space Weather Operations, Research, and Mitigation (SWORM) Task Force, established in 2014 by the National Science and Technology Council, has sought to address these challenges.

From 2017 to 2022, I had the privilege of chairing this group, tasked with developing and implementing the National Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan. During this period, we placed a strong emphasis on connecting space weather science with risk mitigation, improving our forecasting, and engaging critical international partners.

Preparedness initiatives are paramount, as they allow us to plan and address any adverse consequences. These initiatives, which were instrumental in preparing for the recent space weather event, enriched the understanding of potential effects and encouraged better preparedness.

Although the solar storm was more of a light display than a disaster for critical systems, it should serve as a wake-up call instead of an excuse for complacency. The unknown nature of future severe geomagnetic storms leaves substantial room for uncertainty, heightening the need for continued vigilance. Furthermore, the potential threat posed by man-made events like weaponized electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks, which can be triggered by high-altitude nuclear detonations, underscores the importance of remaining cautious.

Concerns around EMP events have been prevalent for over two decades. While these possibilities are infrequent, the potential consequences are enormously disruptive. We must remain steadfast in our pursuit of resilience.

Fortunately, the necessary collaboration and policies spurred by NSM 22 align our efforts to confront both natural geomagnetic storms and man-made EMP events simultaneously, ensuring a more holistic approach to securing and reinforcing our critical infrastructure.

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Some initiatives that need to be maintained include enhancing the understanding of the effects of geomagnetic activity on the ground (which could lead to long-term damage to pipelines) and turning those findings into more robust infrastructure design – specifically in the power grid and the technology that runs communications and transportation.

Creating financial incentives to support resilience-by-design can help safeguard communities from the effects of space weather. Additionally, we can learn from this solar storm and improve public awareness efforts for entities that operate our vital infrastructure – such as energy, communication, and emergency services – who might not have continuity plans linked to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center or access to formal information-sharing platforms, like Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs).

The government should think about officially classifying space infrastructure as a critical infrastructure sector. This would draw more attention to the safety of satellites – both in space and on the ground – and create a chance to fortify public-private partnerships with major space service providers. While President Biden didn't make this move in NSM 22, he did leave the option open for future changes depending on the recommendations from various agencies on improving infrastructure protection. Given the potential damage that space weather events can inflict, this designation seems fitting.

The awe-inspiring aurora serves as a reminder of the sun's potential to cause disruption to essential systems we rely on. We must keep building resilience against both natural and artificial space occurrences.

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The diverse stakeholders shared their opinions on the potential impact and preparedness for future geomagnetic storms, recognizing the need for continued vigilance and collaboration.

Policymakers and experts emphasized the importance of addressing the cascading impacts of space weather on critical infrastructure, particularly the potential damage to satellite systems and power grids.

Source: edition.cnn.com