Protecting Canada from Geomagnetic Storms: Current Measures in Place

The sun is currently at an exciting stage of its solar cycle, and millions of people across North America got a firsthand look at the spectacular aurora that lit up the night sky in early May. In Part 1 of “The Dark Side of the Aurora,” we delved into historic geomagnetic storms that caused disruptions to critical infrastructures like the Hydro Quebec power grid in 1989. Now, let’s explore the potential risks our technology-reliant civilization may face today if a severe geomagnetic storm were to hit Earth, and who monitors space weather activity for Canada.

Surprisingly, it is Natural Resources Canada, not the Canada Space Agency or NORAD, that is responsible for monitoring space weather in Canada. The department has a rotating group of space weather duty forecasters who are on call 24/7 to monitor space weather conditions. Kyle Reiter, a space weather analyst at Natural Resources Canada, explains the process of monitoring solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that could potentially impact Earth.

David Boteler, head of the space weather group at Natural Resources Canada, conducts research on the hazards posed by geomagnetic disturbances to critical systems like the power grid, pipelines, and radio communications. With the increasing reliance on technology like satellites for internet communication, the potential impact of geomagnetic storms on our infrastructure is a growing concern.

Despite the vulnerabilities posed by geomagnetic storms, governments, scientists, and power grid operators are actively working to address these risks. The recent event in May 2024 provided an opportunity for New Zealand to test its Solar Tsunamis program, aimed at making the power grid more resilient during extreme space weather events.

While our dependence on technology makes us vulnerable to the effects of geomagnetic storms, our awareness and preparedness have also increased. So, as we enjoy the mesmerizing display of auroras in the night sky, we can take comfort in knowing that efforts are being made to mitigate the potential risks posed by space weather events.