This book addresses the problems of Geocosmos and provides a snapshot of the current research in a broad area of Earth Sciences carried out in Russia and elsewhere. The themes covered include solar physics, physics of magnetosphere, ionosphere and atmosphere, solar-terrestrial coupling links, seismology, geoelectricity, paleomagnetism and rock magnetism, as well as cross-disciplinary studies. The proceedings are carefully edited, providing a panoramic outlook of a broad area of Earth Sciences. The readership includes colleague researchers, students and early career scientists. The proceedings will help the readers to look at their research fields from various points of view. Problems of Geocosmos conferences are held by Earth Physics Department, St. Petersburg University bi-annually since 1994. It is the largest forum of this kind in Russia/former Soviet Union attracting up to 200 researchers in Earth and magnetospheric physics.

This book addresses the problems of Geocosmos and provides a snapshot of the current research in a broad area of Earth Sciences carried out in Russia and elsewhere. The themes covered include solar physics, physics of magnetosphere, ionosphere and atmosphere, solar-terrestrial coupling links, seismology, geoelectricity, paleomagnetism and rock magnetism, as well as cross-disciplinary studies. The proceedings are carefully edited, providing a panoramic outlook of a broad area of Earth Sciences. The readership includes colleague researchers, students and early career scientists. The proceedings will help the readers to look at their research fields from various points of view. Problems of Geocosmos conferences are held by Earth Physics Department, St. Petersburg University bi-annually since 1994. It is the largest forum of this kind in Russia/former Soviet Union attracting up to 200 researchers in Earth and magnetospheric physics.

This book includes the proceedings of the conference “Problems of the Geocosmos” held by the Earth Physics Department, St. Petersburg State University, Russia, every two years since 1996. Covering a broad range of topics in solid Earth physics and solar-terrestrial physics, as well as more applied subjects such as engineering geology and ecology, the book reviews the latest research in planetary geophysics, focusing on the interaction between the Earth’s shells and the near-Earth space in a unified system. This book is divided into four sections: • Exploration and Environmental Geophysics (EG), which covers two broad areas of environmental and engineering geophysics – near-surface research and deep geoelectric studies; • Paleomagnetism and Rock Magnetism (P), which includes research on magnetostratigraphy, paleomagnetism applied to tectonics, environmental magnetism, and marine magnetic anomalies; • Seismology (S), which covers the theory of seismic wave propagation, Earth’s structure from seismic data, global and regional seismicity and sources of earthquakes, and novel seismic instruments and data processing methods; and • Physics of Solar-Terrestrial Connections (STP), which includes magnetospheric phenomena, space weather, and the interrelationship between solar activity and climate.

Problems of Geocosmos conference proceedings series provide a snapshot of current research in a broad area of Earth Sciences carried out in Russia and elsewhere. Themes covered include solar physics, physics of magnetosphere, ionosphere and atmosphere, solar-terrestrial coupling links, seismology and geodynamics, paleomagnetism and rock magnetism, as well as cross-disciplinary studies. The proceedings are carefully edited, providing a panoramic outlook of a broad area of Earth Sciences. The readership includes colleague researchers, students and early career scientists. The proceedings will help the readers to look at their research fields from various points of view. Problems of Geocosmos conferences are held by Earth Physics Department, St. Petersburg University bi-annually since 1994. It is one of the largest forums of this kind in Russia/former Soviet Union attracting up to 200 researchers in Earth and magnetospheric physics.

Injuries due to air turbulence has increased recently, therefore there is considerable concern and interest in understanding and detecting it more accurately. Presently hardly any research deals with air turbulence detection using remote sensing images. Most works use conventional optical remote sensing data with classical methods such as a library spectral signature, band ratio, and principal component analysis without designating new methods and technology. Very little research has attempted to implement optical and microwave remote sensing images for air turbulence detections. This book provides new image processing procedures for air turbulence detection using advanced remote sensing images and quantum image processing. Currently, there is a huge gap between research work in the field of air turbulence detection and advanced remote sensing technology. Most of the theories are not operated in terms of software modules. Most of the software packages in the field of remote sensing images cannot deal with advanced image processing techniques in air turbulence detections due to heavy mathematics work. In this view, this book fills a gap between advanced remote sensing technology and air turbulence detection. For instance, quantum image processing with a new generation of remote sensing technology such as RADARSAT-2 SAR images is also implemented to provide accurate air turbulence detections.

Geomagnetic Disturbances Impacts on Power Systems: Risk Analysis & Mitigation Strategies provides a full risk assessment tool for assessing power systems confronted geomagnetic disturbances (GMDs) and specifies mitigation opportunities for various stakeholders. “This book deals comprehensively with the threat of solar storms on the world’s power systems. It provides a context to GMDs with respect to other natural hazards, and describes methods to evaluate a particular grid’s risk factors in a straightforward fashion. This is extremely useful to power grid operators, as they are not experts in the field of space weather, but they must be able to deal with its impacts. This is the critical message of this extremely valuable book.” – William A. Radasky, Ph.D., P.E., IEEE Life Fellow, Metatech Corporation, California USAAimed at risk engineers, policy-makers, technical experts and non-specialists such as power system operators, this book seeks to provide an insight into the GMD as a natural hazard and to perform the risk assessment of its potential impacts on the power systems as critical infrastructures. The reader gets familiar with how the Sun can endanger ground-based technological systems and the physics of solar activity manifestation on the Earth as Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs). The reaction of power systems to GMDs and mitigation strategies aiming at reducing and controlling the risks are then addressed. The GMD mitigation strategies, the power systems critical factors analysis, the high-risk zones identification and an estimation of economic loss, which is a valuable input for the (re)insurance sector, are also brought to the attention of the reader. Thereby, this book provides a full risk assessment tool for assessing power systems confronted with space weather risks. Key features: • Brings together interdisciplinary perspectives on the topic in one, cohesive book • Practical guideline on mitigation actions for diverse users and even non-specialists • Dealing comprehensively with the threat of geomagnetic disturbance on the worlds power systems • Introducing unique methods to evaluate a particular system risk factors in a straightforward fashion Authors Olga Sokolova, Ph.D., is a risk analyst and electrical engineer with expertise in the domain of critical infrastructure risk assessment to natural catastrophes. Nikolay Korovkin, Ph.D., is a full professor and head of Theoretic Electrical Engineering Department at Peter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU). Masashi Hayakawa, Ph.D., is an emeritus professor of the University of Electro-Communications, and also CEO of Hayakawa Institute of Seismo Electromagnetics, Co.Ltd.