A powerful solar storm could disrupt communications systems on Earth and cause huge economic damage, scientists warn. Why are solar storms so dangerous?
In 1972, more than sixty submarine mines planted by the American military mysteriously detonated themselves off the coast of Vietnam. For many years this event remained a mystery to the military and scientists.
The most likely explanation was found only now. The explosion of mines, most likely, caused a powerful flash on the Sun: meteorologists on that day, a few hours before the detonation of mines, recorded such a flash.
In our time, a similar solar storm is likely to lead to much more serious consequences: a powerful solar flare can disable many systems important for the modern population of the Earth - from satellites to power grids.
The potential damage from the outbreak in Britain alone is estimated at £ 16 billion ($ 20.6 billion).
There are several reasons why we are so dependent on events that take place at a great distance from the Earth.
Why are there flares on the Sun?
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The sun is a star, that is, a "boiling" mass of electrified gas (mainly hydrogen). Energy transfer takes place within this complex magnetic field system.
A solar flare is the explosive process of energy release in the solar atmosphere.
And if outbreaks can cause disruptions in radio communications on Earth, solar storms pose a much more serious hazard.
During each solar storm, energy is released that is 100,000 times more powerful than the world's nuclear arsenal. The difference is that this energy is "scattered" over a huge area in space, and not focused in one place.
The sun can be compared to a fireworks rotating around its axis, flares from which fly in all directions.
If one of these flares is directed towards our planet, the magnetic field surrounding this flare could merge with the Earth's magnetic field. When the solar storm subsides, the Earth's magnetic field will remain deformed for some time, with a long "trail" extending towards the Sun.
As the magnetic field recovers, the movement of charged particles of sunlight towards Earth will accelerate. When charged particles collide with the upper atmosphere, the atoms and molecules of gases that make up the atmosphere will be excited. The visible light from excited atoms is what is known as the polar (northern and southern) lights.
However, the distortion of the Earth's magnetic field can have other, more serious consequences.
It was this process that led to the explosion of mines on the coast of Vietnam in 1972. American mines were equipped with magnetic fuses, which were supposed to react to changes in the magnetic field when the submarine approached. However, the creators of the mines did not take into account that underwater mines can detonate, reacting to a sharp change in the Earth's magnetic field.
How to predict solar storms?
Scientists are trying to understand what exactly leads to the occurrence of such powerful flares on the Sun and how these phenomena can be predicted.
Observations of the Earth's magnetic field began in the middle of the 19th century. According to the data obtained, extreme "weather" conditions in space are observed every 100 years, and less large-scale weather cataclysms can occur more often. In 1859, the most powerful geomagnetic storm in the history of observations was recorded, which is called the "Carrington Event". From August 28 to September 2, 1859, numerous spots and flares were observed on the Sun. Aurora borealis have occurred all over the world, even over the Caribbean The storm led to the failure of telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America.
If such a storm repeats itself, the consequences will be much larger and more sensitive for humanity than in the middle of the 19th century.
Every year humanity becomes more and more dependent on technology.
Nowadays, space satellites are a key link in the global communications and navigation system, airplanes connect continents, and the entire Earth is entangled in electrical networks.
All of these systems are very vulnerable if solar storms occur. Solar flares can damage the electronic equipment of aircraft and spacecraft, and power systems on Earth can also be disabled.
Recently, many satellites and power grids have suffered from solar activity - enough to make sure that it is necessary to timely predict what is happening on the Sun.
Meteorologists and astronomers around the world are working on this problem.
Now meteorologists can accurately predict a solar storm six hours before it starts. For Britain, for example, such forecasting could reduce potential damage from £ 16 billion ($ 20.6 billion) to £ 3 billion ($ 3.86 billion).
Extreme “weather” conditions in space are among the main risks for Britain, along with such traditional risks as a flu pandemic and flooding.
The British government is in talks with energy companies, airlines, space operators on an action plan in the event of solar storms. These plans should help the country minimize losses from them and other extreme events in space.
It is important, for example, to ensure that in the event of a power system malfunction, there is enough energy left to operate refrigerators with stocks of food and medicine.
If communication with some of the satellites is lost, the satellite navigation system and satellite TV may stop working.
Accurately predicting possible solar flares and magnetic storms would help to take better measures to protect equipment sensitive to magnetic field changes.
Some flights travel through the North Pole. This route, for example, is quite often used by planes from Europe to North America. During solar flares, dispatchers usually change the flight path of the liner so that it does not fly across the pole.
This is done in order to avoid exposure to high radiation emissions and possible interruptions in radio communications.
We know much more about "weather" in space today than we knew in 1972, but with advances in technology, we need to ensure that technology can withstand the worst conditions the sun can put us in.