HT @g7izu

"Transpower has issued a grid emergency notice ahead of a severe geomagnetic storm and removed some South Island electricity transmission lines from service.

The national grid operator says the move won't affect the electricity supply to homes and businesses, but will prevent damage to critical equipment if the storm worsens.

Geomagnetic storms can send unwanted currents through electricity circuits, and have the potential to cause serious damage if they reach substations transformers or large hydroelectric dams.

The storms are caused by space weather, when the Sun ejects plasma and other matter in Earth's direction.

Coronal mass ejections (CME) are rare, and generally aren't noticed on earth thanks to the planet's magnetic field shielding the planet from particles, Transpower said."

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/578677/grid-emergency-notice-sparked-by-solar-storm

#SolarStorm #SpaceWeather #GridEmergency #CMEs

Space Weather

The strong geomagnetic storms have triggered a "Grid Emergency" in New Zealand.

Transpower is acting to protect its power grid by shutting off key sections to prevent damage. Some areas of New Zealand may lose power temporarily.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/578677/grid-emergency-notice-sparked-by-solar-storm

#spaceweather
#gridemergency
#g7izu