Waspie_Dwarf Posted April 28, 2014 #1 Share Posted April 28, 2014 ScienceCasts: Carrington-class CME Narrowly Misses EarthVisit http://science.nasa.gov/ for more.Two years ago, an intense solar storm narrowly missed Earth. If it had hit, researchers say, we could still be picking up the pieces.Credit: NASASource: NASA - Multimedia 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Numberman768 Posted April 28, 2014 #2 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Scary to think that this is just a matter of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted April 28, 2014 Author #3 Share Posted April 28, 2014 Scary to think that this is just a matter of time. It is our technology that makes us vulnerable. A CME hit would go unnoticed to most life on Earth, but for humans living in high Northern or low Southern latitudes it can cause electrical blackouts and problems with radio communications. It can also cripple satellites. As it is our technology that makes us vulnerable we must improve our technology to remove that vulnerability. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROGER Posted April 29, 2014 #4 Share Posted April 29, 2014 (edited) My knowledge of the power grid structure is very limited . But are not most Earthly lines , transformers and most electronic equipment shielded , grounded , and has surge protection built in to reduce a full system breakdown ? And also how would a CME effect a home solar cell / battery system in ones home ? I guess I'm thinking a Total country shutdown would not happen , more like localized areas only . Looks like you and I posted at the same time . Edited April 29, 2014 by ROGER Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted April 29, 2014 Author #5 Share Posted April 29, 2014 I guess I'm thinking a Total country shutdown would not happen , more like localized areas only . It doesn't need to be an entire country shut down. Just think of the implications for towns in Alaska or Northern Canada, Siberia, Norway etc, if they were to lose electrical power for several days in the middle of winter. The impact on the very young, very old and sick could be devastating. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecowboy342 Posted April 29, 2014 #6 Share Posted April 29, 2014 Losing power in the middle of a Texas summer could have the same affect on the elderly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taniwha Posted April 29, 2014 #7 Share Posted April 29, 2014 The auroras would be delightful. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted April 29, 2014 Author #8 Share Posted April 29, 2014 The auroras would be delightful. As you slowly and painfully freeze to death because there is no power, you can't call for help because the mobile phone network has been knocked out, I'm sure the fact that the sky is pretty will be some consolation as you draw your final breath. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bavarian Raven Posted July 27, 2014 #9 Share Posted July 27, 2014 As you slowly and painfully freeze to death because there is no power, you can't call for help because the mobile phone network has been knocked out, I'm sure the fact that the sky is pretty will be some consolation as you draw your final breath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bavarian Raven Posted July 27, 2014 #10 Share Posted July 27, 2014 There's something to be said about having a woodstove and several cords of firewood. On the Above, I wonder just how bad (worse case scenario) the damage could be. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrooma Posted July 27, 2014 #11 Share Posted July 27, 2014 (edited) As you slowly and painfully freeze to death because there is no power, you can't call for help because the mobile phone network has been knocked out, I'm sure the fact that the sky is pretty will be some consolation as you draw your final breath. There's something to be said about having a woodstove and several cords of firewood. . i agree with BR. all my outdoor clothing is waterproof, breathable, and insulated. a week in anywhere remote wouldn't be any hardship whatsoever (unless it was cold enough to freeze alcohol, THEN i'd be disappointed). an event such as this Waspie, as you pointed out, would barely register on most people's lives, so going somewhere, to watch, what would be, an amazing auroral spectacle, would, well prepared, hardly be the end of the world now, would it.... . Edited July 27, 2014 by shrooma 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRYSiiSx2 Posted July 27, 2014 #12 Share Posted July 27, 2014 I'm pretty sure people haven't forgotten how to burn wood completely. I'm sure people would help out old folks. But yep inevitably some would die. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regeneratia Posted July 27, 2014 #13 Share Posted July 27, 2014 (edited) you know, what I have learned is that it is socially unacceptable to tell the truth too soon, including the activities about the sun. I am positive I warned people about this particular issue with the sun years ago, while people scoffed. I have always said that I am five to ten years before the perceptions of a good portion of the USA's general population. When I speak these truths, I am not going to give you links. My objective is to give you a seed of thought that inspires you to educate yourself. Some think I am a hack. OK. That kind of reflection is simply always going to happen. What I am asking is that people start being curious and questing. Get a passion for something. One of my passions is the sun. Edited July 27, 2014 by regeneratia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regeneratia Posted July 27, 2014 #14 Share Posted July 27, 2014 I'm pretty sure people haven't forgotten how to burn wood completely. I'm sure people would help out old folks. But yep inevitably some would die. I have a wood-burning stove and passive solar. I LOVE the concept and practice of foresight. Do you? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regeneratia Posted July 27, 2014 #15 Share Posted July 27, 2014 This is my home page. This keeps me up on events with the sun. I check it every day. http://www.solarham.net/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted July 27, 2014 Author #16 Share Posted July 27, 2014 regeneratia, please stay on topic, this is NOT an end of the world prediction topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted July 27, 2014 Author #17 Share Posted July 27, 2014 an event such as this Waspie, as you pointed out, would barely register on most people's lives, so going somewhere, to watch, what would be, an amazing auroral spectacle, would, well prepared, hardly be the end of the world now, would it.... The big flaw in your logic is that if you are far enough away from the polar regions to avoid the damaging effects of a Carrington class solar flare you are far enough away NOT to experience an amazing auroral spectacle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taniwha Posted July 27, 2014 #18 Share Posted July 27, 2014 The big flaw in your logic is that if you are far enough away from the polar regions to avoid the damaging effects of a Carrington class solar flare you are far enough away NOT to experience an amazing auroral spectacle. I think its an over exaggeration to expect that an aurora of such magnitude could not be safely observed lest death results. North and south poles cannot produce simultaneous winters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninjadude Posted July 27, 2014 #19 Share Posted July 27, 2014 The "narrowly missed" is hyperbole. It was "earth obit crossing". But earth was no where near it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquatus1 Posted July 27, 2014 #20 Share Posted July 27, 2014 It doesn't need to be an entire country shut down. Just think of the implications for towns in Alaska or Northern Canada, Siberia, Norway etc, if they were to lose electrical power for several days in the middle of winter. The impact on the very young, very old and sick could be devastating. I'm actually not so worried about people living in small towns farther away from the energy grid. They tend to have experienced other more common disruptions that have taught them the necessity of alternate modes of survival, including such things as wood burning stoves. Back in 2003, after a particularly impressive CME, I was part of a team that hardened part of the cellular network in Florida. We were supposed to do a bigger part of it, but funding was limited, and ultimately the project only managed to get enough to do the 911 systems in a few counties. Unfortunately, despite the magnitude of the disaster, should it occur, the probability of it occurring is not imminent enough to free up money to defend against it. Like most things, the problem isn't predicting it or protecting against it. It's finding the cash to do it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waspie_Dwarf Posted July 27, 2014 Author #21 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Like most things, the problem isn't predicting it or protecting against it. It's finding the cash to do it. Like so many things a threat is only taken seriously AFTER it has happened. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquatus1 Posted July 27, 2014 #22 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Experience is a harsh teacher. First it gives you the test, then it lets you study the lesson. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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