We study intense geomagnetic storms (Dst < −100nT) during the first half of the solar cycle 24. This type of storm appeared only a few times, mostly associated with southwardly directed heliospheric magnetic fieldBz. Using various methods such as self-organizing maps, statistical and superposed epoch analysis, we show that during and right after intense geomagnetic storms, there is growth in the number of transmission line failures. We also examine the temporal changes in the number of failures during 2010-2014 and find that the growing linear tendency of electrical grid failure occurrence is possibly connected with solar activity. We compare these results with the geoelectric field calculated for the region of Poland using a 1-D layered conductivity Earth model.

In the present article, we analyze long-term changes in the intensity of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) in different polarity epochs of the solar magnetic cycles from 1959 to 2014. Our purpose is to carry out a study of the delay time (DT) between the changes of the GCR intensity and various parameters characterizing the conditions in the heliosphere. We prove the existence of varying DTs between the changes of GCR intensity and the parameters characterizing solar activity, such as sunspot number and tilt angle. Based on our investigation, we obtained different DTs in epochs with different global solar magnetic field polarities. We conclude that the observed DTs are very important parameters for the study of GCR transport in the heliosphere.

The Quebec blackout on 13 March 1989, has made geomagnetically induced current (GIC) research a socially important field of study. It is widely recognized that the effects of space weather, which may affect the power infrastructure, threaten countries located at high latitudes. However, in recent years, various studies have shown that countries at lower latitudes may also be at risk. One of the best proxies of GIC variability is the local geoelectric field, as measured in Eskdalemuir, Lerwick, and Hartland, by the British Geological Survey or modeled using, e.g., a 1D layered Earth conductivity model. In our article, we present a review of the issues related to the impact of the GIC on transformers and transmission lines in Central and Southern European countries, from Greece, Spain, and Italy to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Poland. The review underlines the importance of the systematic collection of information about power grid failures and the need for further systematic studies of the GIC’s impact on the operation of power grids in mid-latitude countries.

Nowadays, when the global and national industry is addicted from various electrical and electronic equipment at a very high level, it is of a special interest to understand the possible origins of the interruptions in the electricity supply. Failures in ground-based electrical and electronic systems, or disturbances of satellites operation caused by influential magnetic storms initiated by the changeable Sun can have a high economic impact on the industry. These strong magnetic storms are triggered by solar-driven disturbances in interplanetary space. Studies of these phenomena have gained a special attention since the incident that had occurred in northern Canada in March 1989. During this event the work of the hydroelectric plant in the region of Quebec was blocked for long, winter hours and many citizens of this region of Canada suffered from a blackout. Analysis performed in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory showed that if that blackout have had taken place in the USA then costs generated only by a not supplied electricity could even reach 6 billion USD. In our paper, we apply time series and statistical analysis tools, i.e. superposed epoch analysis and Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Test, for a large set of data, among them: 4625 failures of electrical grids in southern Poland in 2010, from the total number of 25,616, and 10,656 in the first seven months of 2014, from the total number of 30,155. We investigate only those failures which might be connected with the above described effects. We analyze data of breakdowns with unidentified reasons, as well as failures connected to the aging and electronic devices breakdowns, which occurred during the periods of an increased geomagnetic activity. Based on the data from The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management-National Research Institute we eliminate from the consideration those failures which had meteorological grounds. Our analysis shows the usefulness of these mathematical tools in such a vital for the global and national industry issue, as well, that powerful phenomena of solar origin, somewhat disturbed in 2010 and January–July 2014 the electrical grids productivity in southern Poland.