Solar Storm Brewing
Approximately every eleven years, the sun has a cycle where there is an extreme intense burst of activity on the sun’s surface from the flares and the sunspots that creates a temporary disturbance in our own magnetic field. This disturbance is called a Solar Storm, or a Magnetic Storm. Magnetic storms usually last 24 to 48 hours, but some may last for many days.
The next Solar Storm is predicted to begin as early as this fall and reach its peak in 2012. This cycle is said to be almost 50 percent stronger than the previous cycles. So what does this mean for us humans? In a word, trouble.
According to the National Center for Atmospheric Research, this could slow satellite orbits, cause satellite failures, disrupt communications and navigation, wipe out computer memories, bring down power systems, disrupt electric grids, cause blackouts, throwing millions of people into darkness. A previous storm in 1989 caused a nine hour blackout in Quebec after several power grids collapsed. It can create more dangerous conditions for our astronauts, and force airplanes to take alternate routes to avoid the poles. A storm of that magnitude could short-circuit a world. You may also see increased sightings of the Aurora Borealis. Most of the communication systems are disrupted due to the high frequencies that are used. Any ground-to-air, ship-to-shore, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and amateur radio are frequently disrupted, as well as telegraph lines. Navigational systems such as GPS, LORAN, and OMEGA are adversely affected because they depend on the satellite signals to function. Satellites depend on microelectronics, they are very sensitive to small changes in current and voltage. When satellites fall silent, millions of television and cell phones are interrupted. Pipelines can also become problems because the corrosion rate increases dramatically from the fluctuation of current that is induced into the pipelines. Some gas pipelines are known to burst, killing millions of people. This Solar Storm’s intense phenomenon can not only cause man made products to malfunction, but can cause havoc on our bodies. Depending on the intensity of the storm, our consciousness could float out of our bodies. Now that may sound a little off the wall to some people, but you have to remember, our bodies are made up of many different elements and if altered, the charged particles feel significant forces which cause movement. If this would happen, scientists state that all living beings will be less concerned with the material world and focus on the spiritual things. Our bodies would also be exposed to mass amounts of radiation. If you are in an airplane flying through the storm effected areas, some immune systems could immediately experience the effects of radiation doses that would not normally show up for ten to twenty years. This type of radiation is equivalent to about one hundred x-rays and in flight radiation doubles every 6,500 feet. Radiation can also damage and or kill forests and plant-life.
Solar Storms also have a huge effect on the ozone layer. The gigantic solar storms of November 2003 severely depleted the ozone layer above the Arctic for as long as eight months.
So is there anything that we can do to prevent this? Sadly, no, there is no way that we can reduce or prevent the suns emissions into our atmosphere.
So far, these storms can be predicted as many as four days in advance, but only within a twelve hour window. That really doesn’t give us much warning or preparations, especially for our air travel to re-route around the severe areas to avoid radio disruption. Scientists are aware that they have to find a way to do better, but until then we just have to be aware of the situation and what can and will happen. And we must prepare for the worst.
