Solar Storms

James_L_Walker · January 23, 2012, 11:54pm

Largest solar storm in 7 years could disrupt GPS signals, power grid

The impact of the largest solar storm in almost seven years is expected to hit Earth Jan. 24 and could cause slight disruptions in Global Positioning System signals and the electric grid. And at high latitudes, it could make for some brilliant Northern Lights.

Charged particles from the sun are expected to peak about 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, according to The National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

The latest burst follows one over the weekend that resulted in Northern Lights being seen in Canada, Northern England and other places. In the United States Tuesday night, it’s possible the aurora could be seen as far south as the latitudes spanning New England to Oregon.

The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch for the storm, the biggest since May 2005, saying G2 level storming is likely and G3 level storming is possible.

On the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s five-level Space Weather Scale for Geomagnetic Storms, G2 is considered moderate, with possible disruption to power systems and high-frequency radio transmissions at higher latitudes and a slight effect on the orbits of spacecraft, such as satellites.

G3 is rated strong, and could have a greater effect on voltage flows and satellite operations. Threats of serious problems with power grids and satellites, however, would occur at levels G4 and G5, which are not expected.

Although it won’t be strong enough to drive anybody into the bunkers, it nevertheless could cause some trouble. Doug Biesecker, a physicist at the Space Weather Prediction Center, told the Washington Post there could be problems with satellite operations and high-frequency radio transmissions in the polar regions, which could affect air traffic controls for flights between North America and Europe or Asia.

Solar cycles last about 11 years, with ebbs and flows in the amount of x-ray radiation released from sunspots. The current cycle is expected to peak in May 2013, according to a NOAA panel, sponsored by NASA, that came up with a prediction for the cycle in 2009.

gcn.com/articles/2012/01/23/sola … -grid.aspx

Rusty · January 24, 2012, 2:59am

i immediately experienced a strong deja vu with this thread.
something about time travel is missing, though. i have spooky head right now…so strange

James_L_Walker · January 24, 2012, 7:45pm

Huh?

Calrid · January 24, 2012, 7:58pm

I’m already equipped with a foil body suit and tin hat, I will be brain melt free. I do pity you poor plebs though, I may look stupid but at least I can leave the house. Oh and these don’t come from the sun they come from a reptillian mothership, just FYI.

I kid, solar flares cycle regularly from what was a low recently to a highly active phase again, the only time we would really have to worry is if there was no atmosphere and no magnetic field around the Earth. The magnetism thing actually happens every IIRC 200 million years or so, as the planets magnetic field flips to be entirely opposite to what it is now. There is meant to be a a gradual weakening of the field leading up to this and the evidence is in rocks in the ocean bed which are old enough to show the magnetic polarity flip.

James_L_Walker · January 24, 2012, 7:59pm

Calrid:

I’m already equipped with a foil body suit and tin hat, I will be brain melt free. I do pity you poor plebs though, I may look stupid but at least I can leave the house. Oh and these don’t come from the sun they come from a reptillian mothership, just FYI.

I kid, solar flares cycle regularly from what was a low recently to a highly active phase again, the only time we would really have to worry is if there was no atmosphere and no magnetic field around the Earth. The magnetism thing actually happens every 200 million years or so, as the planets magnetic field flips to be entirely opposite to what it is now. There is meant to be a a gradual weakening of the field leading up to this and the evidence is in rocks in the ocean bed which are old enough to show the magnetic polarity flip.

I don’t believe in any of that shit. I just find solar storms of the sun increasing interesting phenomena.

It is after all that giant star which is the only reason that we have life here on planet earth.

I do find the subject interesting as to what would happen if such a solar storm became large enough impacting our planet although.

Calrid · January 24, 2012, 8:00pm

James L Walker:

Calrid:

I’m already equipped with a foil body suit and tin hat, I will be brain melt free. I do pity you poor plebs though, I may look stupid but at least I can leave the house. Oh and these don’t come from the sun they come from a reptillian mothership, just FYI.

I kid, solar flares cycle regularly from what was a low recently to a highly active phase again, the only time we would really have to worry is if there was no atmosphere and no magnetic field around the Earth. The magnetism thing actually happens every 200 million years or so, as the planets magnetic field flips to be entirely opposite to what it is now. There is meant to be a a gradual weakening of the field leading up to this and the evidence is in rocks in the ocean bed which are old enough to show the magnetic polarity flip.

I don’t believe in any of that shit. I just find solar storms of the sun increasing interesting phenomena.

It is after all that giant star that is the only reason that we have live here on planet earth.

I wish I could see the aurora borealis for real, sometimes it is meant to be utterly stunning. Apparently the energy expended as it hits the magnetic field and atmosphere is incredible, it results in oxygen, nitrogen and other gasses being ionised to plasma, hence the brilliant colours, I forget the figures otomh though.

James_L_Walker · January 24, 2012, 8:01pm

Calrid:

James L Walker:

Calrid:

I’m already equipped with a foil body suit and tin hat, I will be brain melt free. I do pity you poor plebs though, I may look stupid but at least I can leave the house. Oh and these don’t come from the sun they come from a reptillian mothership, just FYI.

I kid, solar flares cycle regularly from what was a low recently to a highly active phase again, the only time we would really have to worry is if there was no atmosphere and no magnetic field around the Earth. The magnetism thing actually happens every 200 million years or so, as the planets magnetic field flips to be entirely opposite to what it is now. There is meant to be a a gradual weakening of the field leading up to this and the evidence is in rocks in the ocean bed which are old enough to show the magnetic polarity flip.

I don’t believe in any of that shit. I just find solar storms of the sun increasing interesting phenomena.

It is after all that giant star that is the only reason that we have live here on planet earth.

I wish I could see the aurora borealis for real, sometimes it is meant to be utterly stunning.

I myself would like to some day witness the northern lights.

The_Golden_Turd · January 31, 2012, 3:44am

I wish I could see the aurora borealis for real, sometimes it is meant to be utterly stunning.

Um… Yeah, it gets old quick. Usually just green, but Ive seen blue and purple (very rare) and reddish displays. Shits not worth dreaming about, only comes out when its cold. In the north, you have northern lights, square suns, and four suns, long darkness and long days. Buh humbug!

Mr_Reasonable · January 31, 2012, 7:28pm

Excellent strain man.

MagsJ · February 12, 2012, 5:53pm

Northern lights? just wait till the sun goes super nova baby! now That will be a sight… no wait

Calrid · February 12, 2012, 8:44pm

Well all life on Earth will be extinct long before then, it’ll be baked to a crisp.

Gah the nerd in me just has to say the sun will not super nova or nova.

The next really, really big light show in our neck of the woods will be colliding with the Andromeda galaxy, that will be something to see, assuming we haven’t offed ourselves yet.

We may actually survive it as well.