"If I had to choose a religion, the sun as the universal giver of life would be my god"
Napoleon Bonaparte
Last week Dr. Michio Kaku (from the Science Channel) was on one of the cable news shows talking about the latest cycle of solar activity. It seems as if our old friend Sol, is having one of his periodic fits. However, according to Dr. Kaku, this one could be different, very different.
Currently we are in Solar Cycle 24, which began in January 2008, and should end in 2013. Dr. Kaku asserts that it is only a matter of time before the Earth gets another "direct hit" from one of these flares that occur during a solar cycle. He is strongly encouraging the world governments to ensure the integrity of electrical infrastructures, so as to prevent a recurrence of disruption akin to that caused by the massive solar storm of 1859.
The Super Solar Storm, or Carrington Storm of 1859 was indeed a whopper. The big activity started in late August when many sunspots and flares were detected (even back in that day!). A Brit astronomer named Carrington, detected a huge flare traveling towards Earth on Sept 1st of that year. Whereas light from the Sun can reach the Earth in only 8 minutes, solar flares lumber along at much slower speeds. In fact, a typical flare usually takes 3 or 4 days to reach the Earth. This massive one was different - it was going at "warp" speed. It reached the Earth in only 17 hours.
The effects of this storm were devastating and fascinating at the same time. The Aurora was nothing short of spectacular. It was noticed over most of the Earth. In fact, it was so light at midnight, people in Cuba could read by just using the light of the Aurora. In addition, gold miners in the Rockies were awoken in the middle of the night, thinking it might be morning, as it was so bright.
However, there was a much darker side also. There was not yet any electrical power, so the effect this storm would have had on a electrical grid can only be estimated. However, there were telegraph systems, and they all took a big hit. Most of them failed in both North America and Europe. Some lines grew so hot that papers close by caught fire. It was the first time in modern times that the Earth had suffered an EMP (electro-magnetic pulse).
Dr. Kaku speculates that if this type of storm would hit as a result of Solar Cycle 24, the effects on this country, as well as the rest of the world, would be nothing short of catastrophic. In our country alone, we would lose our power grid and it would take three years to replace. The cost of the damage would exceed $2T and without power to generate electricity, water and gas, hundreds of thousands would perish. In short, until the damage was repaired, we, along with the rest of the world, would be living as if in the 19th century.
What do we do? Sit around and continue to play Russian Roulette with our Sun? Wait for the hit? It was been known for quite a while now that our electric grid, just like most other grids in the world, needs updating. To update our grid, which would allow it protection from solar storms as well as man made EMP threats, would cost a paltry $300M. Not a trillion, not a billion, but 300 million. Yet when this gets brought up for funding in front of Congress, it gets voted down.
Until we update our grid, all we can do is stay prepared for a long term power disruption. Have enough food and water in the house to last for a while. And then we can hope - hope that 24 turns out to be a lucky number. We can hope that once this cycle is over, Sol, our friend and life giver, can settle down and go back to just being the sun.
Currently we are in Solar Cycle 24, which began in January 2008, and should end in 2013. Dr. Kaku asserts that it is only a matter of time before the Earth gets another "direct hit" from one of these flares that occur during a solar cycle. He is strongly encouraging the world governments to ensure the integrity of electrical infrastructures, so as to prevent a recurrence of disruption akin to that caused by the massive solar storm of 1859.
The Super Solar Storm, or Carrington Storm of 1859 was indeed a whopper. The big activity started in late August when many sunspots and flares were detected (even back in that day!). A Brit astronomer named Carrington, detected a huge flare traveling towards Earth on Sept 1st of that year. Whereas light from the Sun can reach the Earth in only 8 minutes, solar flares lumber along at much slower speeds. In fact, a typical flare usually takes 3 or 4 days to reach the Earth. This massive one was different - it was going at "warp" speed. It reached the Earth in only 17 hours.
The effects of this storm were devastating and fascinating at the same time. The Aurora was nothing short of spectacular. It was noticed over most of the Earth. In fact, it was so light at midnight, people in Cuba could read by just using the light of the Aurora. In addition, gold miners in the Rockies were awoken in the middle of the night, thinking it might be morning, as it was so bright.
However, there was a much darker side also. There was not yet any electrical power, so the effect this storm would have had on a electrical grid can only be estimated. However, there were telegraph systems, and they all took a big hit. Most of them failed in both North America and Europe. Some lines grew so hot that papers close by caught fire. It was the first time in modern times that the Earth had suffered an EMP (electro-magnetic pulse).
Dr. Kaku speculates that if this type of storm would hit as a result of Solar Cycle 24, the effects on this country, as well as the rest of the world, would be nothing short of catastrophic. In our country alone, we would lose our power grid and it would take three years to replace. The cost of the damage would exceed $2T and without power to generate electricity, water and gas, hundreds of thousands would perish. In short, until the damage was repaired, we, along with the rest of the world, would be living as if in the 19th century.
What do we do? Sit around and continue to play Russian Roulette with our Sun? Wait for the hit? It was been known for quite a while now that our electric grid, just like most other grids in the world, needs updating. To update our grid, which would allow it protection from solar storms as well as man made EMP threats, would cost a paltry $300M. Not a trillion, not a billion, but 300 million. Yet when this gets brought up for funding in front of Congress, it gets voted down.
Until we update our grid, all we can do is stay prepared for a long term power disruption. Have enough food and water in the house to last for a while. And then we can hope - hope that 24 turns out to be a lucky number. We can hope that once this cycle is over, Sol, our friend and life giver, can settle down and go back to just being the sun.
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