A new solar cycle is upon us after several years of low sunspot activity and less radiation from the sun. The recent x-flare the earth experienced last week was just a small sign of the re-awakening of solar activity, and some of the potential that could effect our way of life in the 21st century.
Solar flares, such as the x-flare and other magnetic storms, have the capability of shutting down, or destroying electronic equipment. Like an EMP, a massive solar flare or solar storm could disrupt a small area, or even places on several continents if it were powerful enough, and came close enough to the earth.
Economically, the ramifications of nature and our solar dependancy could have varying, but expensive impacts on our individual, and national finances. In a new report from the Financial Times.com today, estimates of solar storm impact could rival hurricane Katrina, and bring losses to as much as $2 Trillion dollars.
The most intense solar storm on record, which ruined much of the world's newly installed telegraph network in 1859, took place during an otherwise weak cycle. An 1859-type storm today could knock out the world's information, communications and electricity distribution systems, at a cost estimated by the US government at $2,000bn.
In terms of terrestrial vulnerability, the biggest change since the 2000 peak is that the world has become more dependent on global positioning system satellites - and not just for navigation. The world's mobile phone networks depend on ultra-precise GPS time signals for their co-ordination.
This $2 Trillion cost does not include the potential chaos that would take place in areas around the world, or even in the United States, if communication, food production and delivery, and financial transactions were down for any length of time. It is proven that people do not last long without responding with action when their routines and daily lives are affected, and imagine the stress if you are unable to communicate with loved ones, or get money out of your banks and atm machines.
This solar cycle in many ways is looking like what may have taken place more than a century before, as we have seen weather patterns emit record snows and temperatures, and earlier flooding and draughts in the Middle East are now threatening the world's food supply.
With all these factors added in, the $2 Trillion estimate may actually be way too low should a solar disaster take place.
Comments
Very interesting and detailed account, will pass this along to a few science minded friends. Thanks for sharing!
Does this solar activity have anything to do with x - shape comet measuring over 2000 miles across crashing into sun last year?
Well aren't you just a ray of sunshine? (Sorry, I simply could not resist). ( :
Lots of interesting info here (if not freaky).
Tha author fails to observe that this solar cycle is shaping up to be the weakest since the early 19th century, making the likelihood of a serious geomagnetic storm much less than in prior solar cycles. Still a risk, just a lower one. See http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/predict.shtml and compare forecasted peak of about 50 to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sunspot_Numbers.png
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