Space Weather, Geomagnetic Storms, & EMP

Recently, public concern has arisen over space weather, geomagnetic storms, solar flares, and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) phenomena – all of which can disrupt the electrical grid and return us to the 1800s. Guest John Kappenman explains how these phenomena are being addressed by industry and the federal government.

Understanding EMP is central to our ability to defend ourselves from terrestrial and extraterrestrial concerns. Mr. Kappenman details the critical mandate for attention to EMP, the threat it presents, and its implications for our electric power grid. He has spoken with the US Presidents’ Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection on the Potential Impact of Geomagnetic Storms on Electric Power System Reliability, and has served on the Science Advisors Panel for the NOAA Space Environment Center.

Mr. Kappenman is a principal investigator under contract with the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP Commission). In October 2003, he testified before the US House Science Committee on the importance of geomagnetic storm forecasting for the electric power industry. He was a principal investigator examining the Vulnerability of the Electric Power Grid for Severe Geomagnetic Storms for FEMA under Executive Order 13407, and was one of the Principal Contributors to the 2008 US National Academy of Sciences Report on “Severe Space Weather Events—Understanding Societal and Economic Impacts”. Don’t miss this important interview!

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