VULNERABILITY OF ECONOMIC SECTORS TO GEOMAGNETIC STORMS AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES

Abstract. Solar storms and CMEs increase the amount of radiation that reaches the Earth and can perturb the magnetic shielding of the Earth. K and Kp indices quantify this perturbation by using magnetometers calibrated accordingly to the latitude of the geomagnetic observatory It is possible to contribute this measurement by establishing an observatory specialized in space weather studies. Many basic sectors are vulnerable against a strong solar storm unless necessary mitigation strategies are applied. Moreover, failure in taking an immediate precaution may have long-term effects which include economic destruction, irreversible health problems and weaknesses in national defence. In this work, the requirement such an observatory should have, the most 11 vulnerable sectors and corresponding mitigation strategies are discussed in detail. Turkey's seven geographical regions are examined to find the optimal location for the foundation of such a probable observatory. It is found that Central Anatolia is the ideal region and districts Konya/Karapinar and Konya/Çeltik are the possible candidates for such a location.