It’s only a matter of time before Earth is hit again by a solar storm. In 1859, the planet already experienced the largest record of its kind: the Carrington event. At that time, telegrams around the world stopped working.
Today, such a storm can destroy electrical and communication systems around the world.
To protect the planet, we must:
- encourage research into the effects of these storms,
- Install devices (transformers) that protect vulnerable equipment
- Develop strategies to adjust grid loads when solar storms are about to occur.
What are solar storms?
It should be noted that these storms occur when a large bubble of extremely hot gas, known as plasma, escapes from the surface of the Sun and hits the Earth. The bubble is called a coronal mass expulsion.
Plasma is a cloud of protons and electrons (electrically charged particles) that upon reaching Earth interact with the magnetic field that surrounds the planet. This leads to a distortion and weakening of the magnetic field, which increases the chances of natural phenomena.
Solar or geomagnetic storms are capable of releasing large amounts of cosmic rays into the atmosphere, which in turn produce Carbon 14which is a radioactive isotope of carbon.
Evidence was found in the icy Antarctic pointing to a massive storm in AD 774, known as the Miyake event, which produced the largest and fastest rise in carbon-14. Then, in AD 993, there was a 60% smaller volume.
Everything indicates that they occur every 500 years on average.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) uses a “G scale” to measure the strength of these solar flares, which ranges from 1 to 5 — with G1 being minor and G5 intense. The Carrington event could have been classified as a G5.
NASA records 2015 solar storm
Photo: NASA
consequences of the storm
Today, a solar storm like the Carrington event can be disastrous, affecting all electrical systems.
This phenomenon generates induced currents flowing through the electrical network.
If the electrical service provided to many homes is 100 amp, cCurrents of this magnitude can cause damage to internal components and widespread power outages.
Recently, in March 1989, a geomagnetic storm was three times smaller than a storm Carrington Signed in Quebec (Canada). Magnetically induced high currents damaged a transformer in New Jersey, USA, and circuit breakers tripped, leaving five million people without electricity for nine hours.
In addition to electrical failures, communications can be disrupted on a global scale, with internet service providers, television, navigation (GPS) outages and phone service problems.
In addition, increased solar activity causes the atmosphere to expand, which changes the density of the atmosphere where satellites orbit.
The high-density atmosphere creates drag on the satellite, which slows it down and, if not maneuvered into a higher orbit, can be destroyed on return to Earth.
* With information from the conversation
Edward Langley is a contributor at Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment and lifestyle. He focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developing stories. His work highlights issues, trends and events that matter to everyday audiences, with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance and accessible journalism.