1. Economic Impact of Space Storms
W. Peeters
Singapore
GSTC 2014

2. Solar Activity (Sunspots averaged)
Source: SIDC (2012)

3. Severe Space Storms history
1942 : Estimated : > X12
1991 : The Great Storm : > X12
2003 : Halloween Storm : X28
1859 (August / September) – Carrington Storm
Telegraphs burned out
Aurora was visual till El Salvador
Greenwich/Kiew/ Bombay : off-scale magnetic measurements
Estimated strength: > X40 (X60?)

4. Space Storms and Power Grids
Terrestrial Impact :
1989 : X10 strength Storm USA and Canada : 5-6 million people without electricity 9 hours
Economic loss and direct replacement of transformers : 4 – 10 billion USD
2003 : X28 Halloween Storm, transformers burned out but also satellite damage
At present national UK grid study from Lloyds: 1.7 billion USD and up to 2 months before back to 100% normal activity.

5. Space Storms and further impact
Williamson, (2004)

6. Space Storms and Societal Impact
Electricity cut for days : production stop
Effect on heating, transport, food, water…
Air traffic grounded for days
Degradation of GPS services, transportation
Telecom impact:
DTH TV and radio
Financial transactions
Business communications
Security and Military communications

7. Carrington 2 effects Carrington-like storm:
thousands transformers destroyed
Millions of people without heating, later food and water shortage
estimated 400 satellites in GEO impacted
150 billion USD replacement
> 10 years to build and launch replacements
GPS system heavily affected
Estimates : 1 decade to come back to normal with 1 … trillion USD damage at least.

8. Telecommunication Impact
(Source SIA/Futron, June 2012)

9. Countermeasures Robust (smart) power grids investment
Experience exchange on hardening satellites
Higher pre-warning times (satellites on other side of the sun?)  Hibernation…
International Space Weather Programs?
Involvement of the Telecom operators (cfr. Space Data Association)
Create political and industrial awareness!

10. Southern Hemisphere
Study presented in Adelaide by ISU team on 6 February 2014 (‘Our Turbulent Sun’) on effects in Southern Hemisphere
Will be made available on ISU website
The time to repair the roof is when the Sun is shining (John F. Kennedy)