US solar observatories are NOT the only ones
https://altapress.ru/zhizn/story/solnechnie-pyatna-sprovotsirovali-magnitnuyu-buryu-v-barnaule-228221
This article notes that solar activity will cause magnetic storms in the area of Barnaul, Siberia which is on top of a huge iron ore deposit in the Altai foothills.