The geoelectric structure of the Romanian underground and its contribution to the geoelectric hazard during the solar cycle 23

A recent model of the Romanian lithosphere electric properties, based on magnetotelluric transects carried out in the past 50 years across main tectonic units, is used to assess the geoelectric hazard represented by geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) for certain space weather events. Based on the geomagnetic field recordings and on information regarding the underground electric conductivity, the surface geoelectric field associated to geomagnetic variations during several large geomagnetic storms of the solar cycle 23 (1986-1996) is determined using the plane wave approximation for the depth propagation of the geomagnetic disturbance. A comparison to the territory of the European continent is done as well.