Not to freak any one out here but could SSC actually go down for quite some time because of this? It is really amazing that a solar event of this type could cause global chaos I think in our technology reliant society. I mean we are using computers/internet daily and it is now part of our lives. We seem lost without these things and can we deal with the consequences of an event like this and what it could do?
Read this...
Melbourne, Aug 26 (ANI): Astronomers are predicting that a massive solar storm, much bigger in potential than the one that caused spectacular light shows on Earth earlier this month, is to strike our planet in 2012 with a force of 100 million hydrogen bombs.
Several US media outlets have reported that NASA was warning the massive flare this month was just a precursor to a massive solar storm building that had the potential to wipe out the entire planet's power grid.
Despite its rebuttal, NASA's been watching out for this storm since 2006 and reports from the US this week claim the storms could hit on that most Hollywood of disaster dates - 2012.
Similar storms back in 1859 and 1921 caused worldwide chaos, wiping out telegraph wires on a massive scale. The 2012 storm has the potential to be even more disruptive.
"The general consensus among general astronomers (and certainly solar astronomers) is that this coming Solar maximum (2012 but possibly later into 2013) will be the most violent in 100 years," News.com.au quoted astronomy lecturer and columnist Dave Reneke as saying.
"A bold statement and one taken seriously by those it will affect most, namely airline companies, communications companies and anyone working with modern GPS systems.
"They can even trip circuit breakers and knock out orbiting satellites, as has already been done this year," added Reneke.
No one really knows what effect the 2012-2013 Solar Max will have on today's digital-reliant society.
Dr Richard Fisher, director of NASA's Heliophysics division, told Reneke the super storm would hit like "a bolt of lightning", causing catastrophic consequences for the world's health, emergency services and national security unless precautions are taken.
NASA said that a recent report by the National Academy of Sciences found that if a similar storm occurred today, it could cause "1 to 2 trillion dollars in damages to society's high-tech infrastructure and require four to 10 years for complete recovery".
The reason for the concern comes as the sun enters a phase known as Solar Cycle 24.
Most experts agree, although those who put the date of Solar Max in 2012 are getting the most press.
They claim satellites will be aged by 50 years, rendering GPS even more useless than ever, and the blast will have the equivalent energy of 100 million hydrogen bombs.
"We know it is coming but we don't know how bad it is going to be," Fisher told Reneke.
"Systems will just not work. The flares change the magnetic field on the Earth and it's rapid, just like a lightning bolt. That's the solar effect," he added.
The findings are published in the most recent issue of Australasian Science. (ANI)
Hay what do know the Mayan calendar was right, 😮 I wonder what that medieval nutter Nostradaus has to say about it. 😆
Anyhow bit of tricky situation for those in charge in will the get enough warning to shut down the power generator ect.
My guess and I am guessing.... 🙂 That if a solar storm/flare did occur on the sun and the blast was aimed in earths direction at that time I guess we would only have a few mins to shut things off to protect most of the worlds assets. I think I remember reading once that recently there was a flare and its particles hit earth within 15-20mins (1/3 speed of light). That really isn't a lot of time and thats if we are monitoring the sun every second of the day. I would hope this event doesn't cause a EMP effect on the planet because if it did we are screwed royally. But if it is more mild we will have a lapse in communications/gps/tv until those items can be repaired or replaced.
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