Posted on 10/27/2003 2:49:22 PM PST by 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
Comment added at 11:15 UTC on October 28: Region 10486 was the source of a major M8.4 long duration event peaking at 10:48 UTC. This event occurred in the eastern part of the region and may have triggered a superflare in the remainder of the region, this flare peaked at 11:10 UTC. This superflare has so far peaked at the class X18 level which makes it the second largest flare during cycle 23. The event is likely to be associated with an enormous earth directed CME. The CME will likely reach the Earth sometime between 8 and 17 UTC on October 29. This will be a direct hit and extremely severe geomagnetic storming is possible.
Proton levels at Earth are increasing quickly and this could become a major proton event.
And Mexicans. Don't leave them out.
Solar flares... now that's what I consider some serious DOOM.
And no Dan Rather jokes please.
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