Solar Storm 'Could Spark Catastrophe'

Ananova ^ | 10-27-2003

[blam]

Solar storm 'could spark catastrophe'

Scientists are warning a "perfect space storm" that occurred 144 years ago could happen again at any time with catastrophic consequences.

Newly uncovered scientific data has shown the true extent of history's most massive electromagnetic storm which blew up on the first two days of September 1859.

Like "the perfect storm" at sea which inspired a blockbuster movie, it was the result of a number of titanic events coming together.

But in this case the centre of the storm was the sun, not the ocean.

A combination of sunspots and solar flares produced an explosive release of magnetically charged gas and particles which sped towards the Earth.

When the storm struck, the effects had a huge impact even on the limited technological landscape of the 19th century.

Within hours, telegraph wires in both the United States and Europe spontaneously shorted out, causing numerous fires.

People were amazed as the Northern Lights - caused by charged solar particles bombarding the atmosphere near the northern magnetic pole - illuminated the sky as far south as Rome, Havana and Hawaii.

Dr Bruce Tsurutani, a plasma physicist at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, who has investigated the event, said: "What happened in 1859 was a combination of several events that occurred on the sun at the same time.

"If they took place separately they would be somewhat notable events. But together they create the most potent disruption of Earth's ionosphere in recorded history. What they generated was the perfect space storm."

Story filed: 13:51 Sunday 26th October 2003

[Hot Tabasco]

Scientists are warning a "perfect space storm" that occurred 144 years ago could happen again at any time

LOL! We got a 50/50 chance of it happening at night. If at night, no problem. If during the day, thats why I've got ray-bans.......

On another thread I read that Poland was sending a space team on an exploratory mission to the sun. When questioned about the chance of burning up they responded that they were going to go at night.......

[SSN558]

Within hours, telegraph wires in both the United States and Europe spontaneously shorted out, causing numerous fires.

Edison lost the battle on DC current, so this is not as likely to happen again. Grounding is something that wasn't used in 1859 either. More chicken little.

[Gringo1]

Technical school.

[freedumb2003]

"It runs out/rolls over in 2031"

Ooh, that could be a problem!

Actually, we have a problem on the Winster's Solstace in 2012. That is when the Aztec calander runs out. According to legend a new Era will begin.

Pack your bags accordingly.

[Thumper1960]

You probably drive an SUV, too.

It's YOUR kind that ruined America for all the lil people!

[Hot Tabasco]

Technical school.

Could you perhaps elaborate more than just "technical school"?

[Thumper1960]

Not to worry!

There won't be any Windows/Unix based systems in 2031. The Mayans have informed us that the world's gonna end in 2007 or '08...or something....anyway.

Of course, if my SSI gets screwed up when I hit 70, I'll be sorely PO'd!

[dpwiener]

Easy for you to say; me I'm off to buy enough tinfoil to do my roof.

Forget about your roof! Protect your brain!!!

(No one seems to be taking seriously the theoretical danger that alien terrorists will use their advanced technology to modulate sunspot storms to take over control of our minds.)

[Wilhelm Tell]

Like you, I don't consider this a joke, either. We have experienced strong storms (though not as bad as the 1859 storm) that disrupted power grids. There would be communication blackouts. Areas closer to the poles would be affected the most. It sure would fry some satellites. Probably the worst solar storm in our lifetime happened in 1989. People could see the Northern Lights as far south as Florida. There were communication blackouts and I think there were some power outages in Canada.

[NordP]

"Solar Storm 'Could Spark Catastrophe'"

I live in San Diego....I think we just HAD our catastrophe!

[NordP]

--Everybody else's turn...

[Newbomb Turk]

I don't waste time worrying about things I don't control.
He has the whole world in his hands !

RELAX

[Larry Lucido]

Hey, don't forget the Y10K problem. Four-digit year fields will no longer cut it for the new five-digit year numbering system. Why, oh why, were we so short-sighted back in 1999?? All that work for a mere 8000 year fix!

[sunryse]

>Easy for you to say; me I'm off to buy enough tinfoil to >do my roof.

Why not coat yourself with some Shake and Bake while you're at it!

[sunryse]

>What the hell would it do now, when, instead of a few >scattered telegraph wires, every home in the country is >wired, virtually the entire industrialized world depends >on computers and satellites, etc. Kinda scary to think >about.

I thought the same thing when they were talking about this storm earlier this week. I mean if it can fry some telegraph wires enough to start fires, what would it do to the world as we know it?

And wasn't this about the time that the "sky fell" as the Natives said? The comets came raining down on the earth?

[Mini-14]

Actually, we have a problem on the Winster's Solstace in 2012. That is when the Aztec calander runs out. According to legend a new Era will begin.

Oh crap!

[Qwinn]

*chuckle* That's pretty funny - for years I -have- been saying "It's not too early to start worrying about the Y10K problem!" It always gets deep groans - I love it.

Qwinn

[Ichneumon]

Hey, don't forget the Y10K problem. Four-digit year fields will no longer cut it for the new five-digit year numbering system. Why, oh why, were we so short-sighted back in 1999?? All that work for a mere 8000 year fix!

http://www.dumbentia.com/pdflib/y10k.pdf

[BlueLancer]

"...if legions of programmers out there hadn't been hired to do what they did to solve the problem, 1/1/2000 -would- have been very nasty."

Mynd yøu, Y2K bites cån be nasti ...

... nøt that Prøgråmmær bites åren't jüst ås båd!