Could a powerful solar storm wipe out the internet?

Live Science ^ | Joanna Thompson

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Prepper Ping - In case you missed it ! - CME/ Carrington Effect

BenLurkin :"As powerful electric currents flow through our planet's upper atmosphere, they induce powerful currents that flow through the crust as well.
This can interfere with electrical conductors sitting on top of the crust, such as power grids...
The result is localized power outages that can be difficult to fix; one such event struck Quebec March 13, 1989, resulting in a 12-hour blackout...
More recently, a solar flare knocked out 40 Starlink satellites when SpaceX failed to check the space weather forecast..."

In order to take down the internet entirely, a solar storm would need to interfere with the ultra-long fiber optic cables that stretch beneath the oceans and link continents.
Every 30 to 90 miles (50 to 145 kilometers), these cables are equipped with repeaters that help boost their signal as it travels.
While the cables themselves aren't vulnerable to geomagnetic storms, the repeaters are.
And if one repeater goes out, it could be enough to take down the entire cable,
and if enough cables went offline, it could cause an "internet apocalypse..."

( My comment) : All the more reason why should have your prepper supplies, and proposed prepper resources printed out on paper.
Power black outs have occurred by force of nature; of concern also is any man-made black out such as what has occurred in California this year.
It is rumored that a high altitude nuclear discharge could also effect not just the internet, but also the production and distribution of electricity - a Carrington Effect !
Most of us rely on the dependability of electricity and the internet for information and recalling our resources - that is called "Normalcy Bias"
Realize that the internet and electricity depend on electrical transformers for distribution, and that only 10% of our transformers are made in this country;
the remainder come from overseas where there is a year long 'wait list', and even longer for custom made electrical transformers.
OODA Loop ! - "When in doubt - Print it out !"

[metmom]

I keep getting flack from my kids and others about keeping paper copies, but I have learned the hard way the value of doing that.

[Openurmind]

lol... :)