Module 4.2 — Solar Vector Disruptions in the North

↳ CIRAS TRAINING MODULE 4.2 — SOLAR VECTOR DISRUPTIONS IN THE NORTH

◤ STATUS: ACTIVE TRAINING ◢

↳ Subject: Solar Flare & CME Impact Protocols

↳ Operational Relevance: High-Latitude Infrastructure

↳ Clearance Level: BLUE+

> OPERATIONAL CONTEXT

Solar flares and CMEs distort Earth’s magnetosphere. In polar regions, these effects are amplified, driving dangerous geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) into long transmission lines, cables, and over-the-horizon communications.

> CASE FILE 001 — HYDRO-QUÉBEC, 1989

Date: March 13, 1989

Event: CME impact caused grid collapse in <90 seconds

Impact: 9-hour blackout; 6M without power; satellite & shortwave outages

> CASE FILE 002 — 2003 NORTHEAST BLACKOUT

Date: Aug 14, 2003

Not solar-related — caused by line contact with trees + system alarm failures

Relevance: Cascade effects mimic CME damage; agents must verify GIC signature

> CURRENT THREAT — AR4168 [LIVE THREAT]

Active Region producing multiple M-class flares

Current storm level: G1–G2; potential escalation

High risk for comms disruption across Canada, Russia, Greenland, Norway

> FIELD PROTOCOLS

• Monitor NOAA/NASA/SWPC alerts hourly

• Check magnetometer spikes at high-lat stations

• Switch to HF/VHF backup if auroral absorption detected

• Verify redundancy on polar satellite uplinks

> FIELD TAKEAWAY

GIC Signature: Instant, wide-area power & comms loss with magnetometer spike.

Grid Cascade: Progressive regional failure, no geomagnetic disturbance.

░░ MODULE 4.2 — COMPLETE ░░