Posted on 06/22/2011 8:57:15 AM PDT by tired&retired
In Sept. 1859, on the eve of a below-average1 solar cycle, the sun unleashed one of the most powerful storms in centuries. The underlying flare was so unusual, researchers still aren't sure how to categorize it. The blast peppered Earth with the most energetic protons in half-a-millennium, induced electrical currents that set telegraph offices on fire, and sparked Northern Lights over Cuba and Hawaii.
This week, officials have gathered at the National Press Club in Washington DC to ask themselves a simple question: What if it happens again?
Modern power grids are vulnerable to solar storms. Photo credit: Martin Stojanovski "A similar storm today might knock us for a loop," says Lika Guhathakurta, a solar physicist at NASA headquarters. "Modern society depends on high-tech systems such as smart power grids, GPS, and satellite communications--all of which are vulnerable to solar storms."
In 2011 the situation would be more serious. An avalanche of blackouts carried across continents by long-distance power lines could last for weeks to months as engineers struggle to repair damaged transformers. Planes and ships couldn’t trust GPS units for navigation. Banking and financial networks might go offline, disrupting commerce in a way unique to the Information Age. According to a 2008 report from the National Academy of Sciences, a century-class solar storm could have the economic impact of 20 hurricane Katrinas.
(Excerpt) Read more at science.nasa.gov ...
Because, in many respects, they were.
Today... not so much.
Yep.
I think that is what New Orleans said about a hurricane hitting them!!!
There are definite patterns in the solar changes that repeat themselves... that's why they call them solar “cycles.”
You can’t be SIRIUS!
Tell that to the solar scientists who were busy predicting and repredicting Cycle 24, getting it wrong each time after time.
“What if the Earth’s magnetic field flips tomorrow?”
If you read about the sun flipping every cycle, it is not a “flip” per se. It first loses it’s dipolar field strength, goes into chaos, (that’s when the coronal mass ejections peak) and then reorganizes in a reverse polarity.
The earth does the same thing in a polar shift. It is the reason for all the earthquakes and volcanic activity during the reversal. If you want to read a real interesting article, read the NASA one I linked above that shows the field reversal patterns found on both sides of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The current bandwidth is greater than normal which suggests we are past due for a change. They used magnetometers from ships, measuring the polarity of the iron ore deposits in the ocean floor. They found that when the molten lava flowed, the deposits aligned with the polarity at that time, and when the lava solidified, it locked the pattern. By measuring the widths of the bands of each polarity field and contrasting it with the rate of movement of the plates, they could tell approximately how many years between polarity reversals.
Like Y2K, it wouldn't be the end of the world, but, like Y2K, it's good to do some serious thinking and planning about how to deal with it, if and when it comes.
“Tell that to the solar scientists who were busy predicting and repredicting Cycle 24, getting it wrong each time after time.”
The damage is compounded by the weakness in the earth’s magnetosphere which protects us from the CME’s.
Per Wikipedia: It is predicted that Solar Cycle 24 will peak in May 2013 with about 58[4] sunspots. This would make it the least active cycle since solar cycle 6, which ended in the year 1823.
“NASA Solar Cycle Sunspot Number Predictions as of Feb 2011
The 2008 breach of Earth’s magnetic shield: According to NASA, the intensity of geomagnetic storms during Solar Cycle 24 may be elevated in some areas where the Earth’s magnetic field is weaker than expected. This fact was discovered by the THEMIS spacecraft in 2008.[5][6] A 20-fold increase in particle counts that penetrate the Earth’s magnetic field may be expected.[7]
5.^ “Giant Breach in Earth’s Magnetic Field Discovered”. NASA. 2008-12-16. http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2008/16dec_giantbreach/. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
6.^ Phillips, Tony (2010-06-14). “As the Sun Awakens, NASA Keeps a Wary Eye on Space Weather”. Science@NASA. http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/04jun_swef/. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
7.^ Thompson, Andrea (2008-12-16). “Leaks Found in Earth’s Protective Magnetic Field”. SPACE.com. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/081216-agu-solar-storm-shield-break.html. Retrieved 2010-06-02. “As it orbited Earth, THEMIS’s five spacecraft were able to estimate the thickness of the band of solar particles coming when the fields were aligned — it turned out to be about 20 times the number that got in when the fields were anti-aligned.”
“Remember the magnetic cassette tape erasers we used to wipe data from tapes?”
Remember Faraday cages and electronic circuit breakers?
Same with the onset of the next ice age.
I’m not worried... All my hard drives are wrapped in tin foil.
I am somewhat prepared for calamity and working on better preparations (Be Prepared - words to live by as it turns out).
My progeny are well launched and at least knowledgeable about bad things that can happen (even if not well prepared). Working against the current forces of gov't, I work to be as self sufficient as possible and am always learning new skilz.
That reminds me that I need to turn my computer “lab” into a Faraday Cage and do normal surfing outside the “box”.
My hat is off to you..... Ditto here.
It’s hard to see the forest when you are inside, but from the outside, things are pretty clear.
The most important thing is.. No Fear... As it clouds the mind.
“That reminds me that I need to turn my computer “lab” into a Faraday Cage “
I did that 20 years ago... 30’ X 50’ with rebar cage on 16” centers, welded at all cross points and then sandwiched with heavy concrete mesh. All imbedded in 12” concrete and underground. Didn’t do it as a Faraday cage. My engineer friends told me that the overhead pour of concrete would not work so I built it as a bridge with steel beams under it on 16” centers.
I was just building an energy efficient home on my farm and concrete and steel was cheaper than wood. Having done a lot of concrete work as a contractor in the past, the price was a bulk purchase of 200+ yards of concrete and I managed to find the rebar and steel beams in a scrap yard. I put an R-40 foam on the concrete prior to backfill so the walls, floor and ceiling all stay at inside air temp. Never, ever thought it might come in handy some day.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.