Posted on 01/08/2009 4:57:24 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
A new study from the National Academy of Sciences outlines grim possibilities on Earth for a worst-case scenario solar storm.
Damage to power grids and other communications systems could be catastrophic, the scientists conclude, with effects leading to a potential loss of governmental control of the situation.
The prediction is based in part on major solar storm in 1859 caused telegraph wires to short out in the United States and Europe, igniting widespread fires.
It was perhaps the worst in the past 200 years, according to the new study, and with the advent of modern power grids and satellites, much more is at risk.
"A contemporary repetition of the [1859] event would cause significantly more extensive (and possibly catastrophic) social and economic disruptions," the researchers conclude.
When the sun is in the active phase of its 11-year cycle, it can unleash powerful magnetic storms that disable satellites, threaten astronaut safety, and even disrupt communication systems on Earth.
The worst storms can knock out power grids by inducing currents that melt transformers.
Modern power grids are so interconnected that a big space storm — the type expected to occur about once a century — could cause a cascade of failures that would sweep across the United States, cutting power to 130 million people or more in this country alone, the new report concludes.
Such widespread power outages, though expected to be a rare possibility, would affect other vital systems.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
This is series.
ping
Bush’s fault!
More liberal scare-science targeted at the mentally handicapped liberal voters....another GW-style scam in the brewing??
What’s next you mindless libs? Attack of the KILLER TOMATOES??
Lions, tigers and bears, oh my!
Naw....Plugs Biden was talking about a MANUFACTURED crisis, the one that Rham Emmanuel says is an opportunity they can’t let slip by. Just like the DUmbasses who said that if 9-11 had happened on BJ Clinton’s watch it would have been a legacy enhancer.
/johnny
Ever wonder why the ice ages are much longer during the glaciation period, about 100,000 years on average, than the period of Interglacial, about like the 12,000 years of the current Holocene Interglacial? And how does that work, unless the sun goes quiet for a 100,000 years or so.
Do people even know the Earth is in the Holocene Interglacial period and the only sure thing is there will be another ice age, not when will there be another ice age?
The smart grid will be invulnerable!
If this is world wide, then even our enemies will have problems. Well, I guess the cannibals in some of the far away rain forests will still have some clout. :-)
I am sure 0bama can fix this.
Don’t worry, the Yellowstone volcano will kill us all first.
Maybe our outdated nuke warheads that have the old 60s style electronics will survive better than Russia's upgraded electronics.
“The sky is falling, the sky is falling Chicken Little”
Unless we get more funding for research.
And control of the world to prevent it. (What ever it is)
OK, brace yourselves.
Al gore, the dips**t dimwit ran with the last one.
I wonder which MENSA lagislator will adopt this doomsday scenario?
This type of article just illustrates how many idiots working with taxpayer money have waaaaaaay too much time on their hands.
Gee, I thought the sun was being very very quiet. Cycle 24 is late and that’s why it’s getting so cold all around the world:
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/01/
Your fridge, though, may be toast.
/johnny
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