New Electrical Pathways Map Reveals Power Grid Risks in the U.S.
Scientists have completed a comprehensive survey of the electrical properties beneath the United States, revealing hidden pathways that could influence the impact of solar storms on the power grid. Over 18 years, data was collected from more than 1,800 magnetotelluric stations across the country, resulting in a three-dimensional map of underground electrical currents. This map, developed by the United States Magnetotelluric Array (USMTArray), shows how electricity flows through rocks, fluids, and geological formations. The study, conducted by the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, highlights the potential for solar storms to cause significant disruptions to the power grid, similar to the 1989 blackout in Quebec. The new tools developed from this data can detect solar storms before they strike, providing critical information to mitigate risks. 
