| Title: | Global electric circuit as a driver of space weather impacts : cross-sectoral risks for energy and digital infrastructures with a Spain blackout case study |
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| Authors: | ID Grašič, Valerij (Author)
ID Boshkoska, Biljana Mileva (Author) |
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| Files: |  RAZ_Grasic_Valerij_2025.pdf (12,52 MB)
MD5: 2EBEEB33F12E23AE224DC803CB606675
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Unknown |
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| Typology: | 1.08 - Published Scientific Conference Contribution |
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| Organization: | FIŠ - Faculty of Information Studies in Novo mesto
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| Abstract: | Space weather is usually evaluated through large-scale geomagnetic disturbances, particularly coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and storm indices such as Kp and Dst. However, disruptive events can also arise when these parameters remain quiet, suggesting additional mechanisms. This paper introduces the Global Electric Circuit (GEC) as a framework to explain such cases, showing how changes in ionospheric conductivity, total electron content (TEC), and radiation flux can influence terrestrial infrastructures. The first contribution is to highlight the GEC as a driver of space weather impacts, extending existing models beyond CME and geomagnetic indices. The second is to develop a cross-sectoral risk perspective that traces how GEC-related disturbances affect both energy and digital infrastructures, creating cascading vulnerabilities. The approach is evaluated using the 2025 Spain blackout, when widespread disruptions occurred despite the absence of major CME activity. Observational data show anomalies in ionospheric and atmospheric conditions consistent with GEC-driven processes. These disturbances coincided with fluctuations in photovoltaic output, grid instability, and communication interruptions. The paper also proposes methodological guidelines, recommending multi-scale analysis windows (4 hours, 16 hours, 3–7 days) and the integration of multi-source datasets. These include upstream satellite observations at the L1 point, GNSS-derived TEC and ionosonde data, atmospheric reanalysis and pressure fields, ground magnetometer networks, and infrastructure-level energy and digital data. The findings demonstrate that incorporating GEC into space weather studies and explicitly linking energy and digital sectors provides a stronger basis for both scientific research and practical resilience planning. |
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| Keywords: | smart city, space weather, Global Electric Circuit (GEC), energy sector, digital sector, Spain blackout, resilience |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Publication date: | 16.01.2026 |
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| Year of publishing: | 2025 |
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| Number of pages: | Str. [98-112] |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/ReVIS-13040  |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 264977155 |
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| UDC: | 004.9:621.31 |
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| Note: | Nasl. z nasl. zaslona;
Opis vira z dne 16. 1. 2026;
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| Publication date in ReVIS: | 22.01.2026 |
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| Views: | 95 |
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| Downloads: | 2 |
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| Metadata: |    |
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