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Electric currents in power transmission line induced by auroral activity

Abstract

SURGES of electric currents induced by auroral activity were first observed in the middle of the last century in the wires of the electric telegraph1,2. In more recent years, auroral effects on long conductors, such as electric power transmission systems, telephone cables and oil pipelines, have attracted much attention because of various problems caused by these currents3. We report here measurements of the currents in a local power transmission line between Healy and Fairbanks and show that some of the fluctuations are aurorally induced.

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References

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AKASOFU, SI., MERRITT, R. Electric currents in power transmission line induced by auroral activity. Nature 279, 308–310 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/279308a0

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