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Re: Powerful Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S. for Months
Powerful Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S. for Months
Friday , January 09, 2009
By Robert Roy Britt
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.
• Click here to visit FOXNews.com's Space Center.
'Command and control might be lost'
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.
"Impacts would be felt on interdependent infrastructures with, for example, potable water distribution affected within several hours; perishable foods and medications lost in 12-24 hours; immediate or eventual loss of heating/air conditioning, sewage disposal, phone service, transportation, fuel resupply and so on," the report states.
Outages could take months to fix, the researchers say. Banks might close, and trade with other countries might halt.
"Emergency services would be strained, and command and control might be lost," write the researchers, led by Daniel Baker, director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
"Whether it is terrestrial catastrophes or extreme space weather incidents, the results can be devastating to modern societies that depend in a myriad of ways on advanced technological systems," Baker said in a statement released with the report.
Stormy past
Solar storms have had significant effects in modern time:
— In 1989, the sun unleashed a tempest that knocked out power to all of Quebec, Canada.
— A remarkable 2003 rampage included 10 major solar flares over a two-week period, knocking out two Earth-orbiting satellites and crippling an instrument aboard a Mars orbiter.
"Obviously, the sun is Earth's life blood," said Richard Fisher, director of the Heliophysics division at NASA. "To mitigate possible public safety issues, it is vital that we better understand extreme space weather events caused by the sun's activity."
"Space weather can produce solar storm electromagnetic fields that induce extreme currents in wires, disrupting power lines, causing wide-spread blackouts and affecting communication cables that support the Internet," the report states. "Severe space weather also produces solar energetic particles and the dislocation of the Earth's radiation belts, which can damage satellites used for commercial communications, global positioning and weather forecasting."
Rush to prepare
The race is on for better forecasting abilities, as the next peak in solar activity is expected to come around 2012.
While the sun is in a lull now, activity can flare up at any moment, and severe space weather — how severe, nobody knows — will ramp up a year or two before the peak.
Some scientists expect the next peak to bring more severe events than other recent peaks.
"A catastrophic failure of commercial and government infrastructure in space and on the ground can be mitigated through raising public awareness, improving vulnerable infrastructure and developing advanced forecasting capabilities," the report states. "Without preventive actions or plans, the trend of increased dependency on modern space-weather sensitive assets could make society more vulnerable in the future."
The report was commissioned and funded by NASA. Experts from around the world in industry, government and academia participated. It was released this week.
Copyright © 2009 Imaginova Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,478024,00.html
Re: Powerful Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S. for Months
I can see why they're preparing for this possibility. This is one of the least active solar cycles on record. Hell, its almost dead. So when it does get active again, they're not sure what to expect.
Since this is a possibility, once an active cycle starts again, I think our nuclear forces should be on red alert for a few years. Place our bombers on patrol in strategic areas of the globe. Let everyone know we're not gonna fuck around if we get sent back to the horse and buggy days for awhile.
Re: Powerful Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S. for Months
I'm starting to believe more and more in the 2012 mythology...
what that gnr wil reunite for a HOF induction? 
the end of the age means the dawn of the age of Aquarius and the end of the age of Pisces....nothing more
or from an age of "Spirtualism" to an age of "Technology" gee thats a stretch 
annyway i doubt that anything will shut down "the world" for more than a few hours...the big blckout a few years ago was huge and it was a couple days....for months? i really doubt it
Re: Powerful Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S. for Months
Something is going to happen. Bet your ass on it. Dozens of older civilizations marked the date Dec. 21st 2012 as a time of change. I do believe something is bound to happen. Solar storm could be it. The end of the world? Maybe. Robots taking over the world and mating with our women to create half robot half human hybrids? Who knows. I hope something happens.. Too much hype for it not to happen.
Re: Powerful Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S. for Months
y2k2
karma
Too much hype for it not to happen.
just like the hype for chinese democracy 
why cant they make super hot robot chicks that the guys get to mate with instead of robot dudes taking our women....men always get the shaft 
- tejastech08
- Rep: 194
Re: Powerful Solar Storm Could Shut Down U.S. for Months
As long as the new robot women look like Kristanna Loken in T3, and we can get that homocidal flaw out of them.... sign me up.
Nothing wrong with having a homicidal woman who can kick your ass, so long as she's smokin' hot. 
:haha:
