The impact of the May 1921 superstorm on American telecommunication systems
Space Weather
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Abstract
A compilation is presented of impacts (interference and damage) realized on long-line telegraph
and telephone systems across North America during the 13-16 May 1921 magnetic storm. Impacts
occurred primarily during local nighttime, after the third of four sudden commencements, and
during the storm’s most-prominent main phase. Impacts are attributed to rapid and high-amplitude
geomagnetic field variation generated by substorms. This induced potential di erences and
between the grounding points of communication networks that were su cient to cause system
interference and damage. In the United States, impacts were concentrated in the Midwest and in
the East, regions characterized by high electromagnetic surface impedance. Given technological
changes, modern telecommunication systems are less exposed to storms like that of May 1921,
while power-grid systems are now more exposed to them.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | The impact of the May 1921 superstorm on American telecommunication systems |
| Series title | Space Weather |
| DOI | 10.1029/2025SW004563 |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Publication Date | July 25, 2025 |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Geophysical Union |
| Contributing office(s) | Geologic Hazards Science Center - Seismology / Geomagnetism |
| Description | e2025SW004563, 7 p. |
| Country | Canada, United States |