EpsilonX
04-22-2009, 01:04 AM
Or something like that:
Such a storm could knock out power nationwide, ABCNews.com reported, leading to a nightmarish scenario that could include failures of transportation, communication and financial systems; shutdowns of government services; and a lack of safe drinking water, food and medication.
Solar storms form when intense bursts of plasma erupt from the surface of the sun, creating what's called a coronal mass ejection (CME). These eruptions can produce electromagnetic interference that wreaks havoc with electricity-dependent technology on Earth.
Although the probability of a worst-case scenario solar storm event is low, researchers say that our increasing reliance on technology makes it crucial to be prepared for such a calamity.
"The consequences could be extreme," Roberta Balstad, a research scientist with Columbia University's Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, told ABCNews.com.
Skip over this content In 1859, a powerful solar storm fried telegraph systems around the world. Another one caused a blackout in Quebec, Canada, 20 years ago.
Michael Kaiser, project scientist for NASA's Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) mission, told ABCNews.com that even if a big solar storm were to hit the nation, power grid operators could minimize the damage if they had enough of a warning.
Kaiser said he and his colleagues are working to refine their ability to better predict solar storms before they happen. "We're getting smarter now," he added.
that would suck.
source: http://news.aol.com/article/solar-storm-warning/437777?icid=main|aimzones|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fn ews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fsolar-storm-warning%2F437777
Such a storm could knock out power nationwide, ABCNews.com reported, leading to a nightmarish scenario that could include failures of transportation, communication and financial systems; shutdowns of government services; and a lack of safe drinking water, food and medication.
Solar storms form when intense bursts of plasma erupt from the surface of the sun, creating what's called a coronal mass ejection (CME). These eruptions can produce electromagnetic interference that wreaks havoc with electricity-dependent technology on Earth.
Although the probability of a worst-case scenario solar storm event is low, researchers say that our increasing reliance on technology makes it crucial to be prepared for such a calamity.
"The consequences could be extreme," Roberta Balstad, a research scientist with Columbia University's Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, told ABCNews.com.
Skip over this content In 1859, a powerful solar storm fried telegraph systems around the world. Another one caused a blackout in Quebec, Canada, 20 years ago.
Michael Kaiser, project scientist for NASA's Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) mission, told ABCNews.com that even if a big solar storm were to hit the nation, power grid operators could minimize the damage if they had enough of a warning.
Kaiser said he and his colleagues are working to refine their ability to better predict solar storms before they happen. "We're getting smarter now," he added.
that would suck.
source: http://news.aol.com/article/solar-storm-warning/437777?icid=main|aimzones|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fn ews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fsolar-storm-warning%2F437777