A large solar storm could knock out the power grid and the internet
On Sept. 1 and 2, 1859, telegraph systems around the world failed catastrophically. The operators of the telegraphs reported receiving electrical shocks, telegraph paper catching fire, and being able to operate equipment with batteries disconnected. During the evenings, the aurora borealis, more commonly known as the northern lights, could be seen as far south as Colombia. Typically, these lights are only visible at higher latitudes, in northern Canada, Scandinavia and Siberia.
What the world experienced that day, now known as the Carrington Event, was a massive geomagnetic storm. These storms occur when a large bubble of superheated gas called plasma is ejected from the surface of the sun and hits the Earth. This bubble is known as a coronal mass ejection.
The plasma of a coronal mass ejection consists of a cloud of protons and electrons, which are electrically charged particles. When these particles reach the Earth, they interact with the magnetic field that surrounds the planet. This interaction causes the magnetic field to distort and weaken, which in turn leads to the strange behavior of the aurora borealis and other natural phenomena.
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Geomagnetic storms have been recorded since the early 19th century, and scientific data from Antarctic ice core samples has shown evidence of an even more massive geomagnetic storm that occurred around A.D. 774, now known as the Miyake Event. That solar flare produced the largest and fastest rise in carbon-14 ever recorded.
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It is only a matter of time before the Earth is hit by another geomagnetic storm. A Carrington Event-size storm would be extremely damaging to the electrical and communication systems worldwide with outages lasting into the weeks. If the storm is the size of the Miyake Event, the results would be catastrophic for the world with potential outages lasting months if not longer. Even with space weather warnings from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, the world would have only a few minutes to a few hours notice.
You mean it's not an Anthropogenic Solar Storm?No biggie - right? We can all live without the internet, probably be better for our kids if they weren't staring at a screen 90% of their waking hours. Oh, it might mess with the production of a few items but no biggie - right?
You mean it's not an Anthropogenic Solar Storm?
Yeah I know. You can add climate to the things we can't control. But solar winds can and do.At this stage of human development, there is no ability to affect the acts of the star our planet orbits.
Maybe we can sign a pact with Europe to stop the solar storms, enact a tax, declare corporations "solar storm friendly", pit people against one another, mandate closures, force people to stay home in the dark while politicians party.
If you will vote for democrats in 2022, they will show you their plan to stop the racist conservative solar flares that disproportionately effect minorities and vulnerable communities.
Stimulus is authorized for everyone but white cis-genders.
Maybe we can sign a pact with Europe to stop the solar storms, enact a tax, declare corporations "solar storm friendly", pit people against one another, mandate closures, force people to stay home in the dark while politicians party.
If you will vote for democrats in 2022, they will show you their plan to stop the racist conservative solar flares that disproportionately effect minorities and vulnerable communities.
Stimulus is authorized for everyone but white cis-genders.
I thought it was The Anarchist’s Cookbook?Pretty soon the Anarchists' Handbook will include instructions on how to create an electromagnetic pulse. Fun times ahead.
You've had a copy since the 70s and you're playing grammar police? Some anarchist you are.I thought it was The Anarchist’s Cookbook?
I had a copy in the mid 1970s.
Mis-labeling is also hyphenated. What’s grammar got to do with it?You've had a copy since the 70s and you're playing grammar police? Some anarchist you are.BTW mid-1970s is hyphenated.
Most Americans would be dead in a matter of months without electricity.We can survive without the internet and electricity.
Poorly, compared to ballpoint pens, so far as I know.We can survive without the internet and electricity.
And just a question, does anyone know how these things work?
No, why would you think that?You mean it's not an Anthropogenic Solar Storm?
If there is no electricity then making ball point pens might be a trick.Poorly, compared to ballpoint pens, so far as I know.
But easier to manufacture.
If you believe AGW don't you have to believe anthropogenic control of the influences on climate? e.g. Activities like solar stormsNo, why would you think that?
No biggie - right? We can all live without the internet, probably be better for our kids if they weren't staring at a screen 90% of their waking hours. Oh, it might mess with the production of a few items but no biggie - right?
The solar flare itself passes in seconds. The damage it will cause is civilization-ending and, assuming we ever recover from it, the process of recovery will take many years.This is an interesting topic.
If the huge solar flare hits us, will the "Dark Side" of the Earth escape the damages?
Will a solar flare capable of this sort of damage last for a span of minutes, hours, days or weeks?
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