Space Weather: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives

A somewhat personalized overview is presented of the effects of solar-terrestrial processes on electrical technologies, beginning with the electrical telegraphs in the mid-eighteenth century to the current era of extensive ground- and space-based commercial and governmental technical systems (including national security) upon which modern society depends. As human technologies increased in diversity over the last century and a half, space weather effects have continued to be of significant importance in the successful design and operations of many of these technologies.