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EARTH: ” We will only have 12 hours left to prepare for massive solar storm if it happens. Are we all prepared?

By Mei

Posted on August 1, 2015

NASA Solar Flare on August 24th 2014 captured by NASA.

The world will only get 12 hours to prepare for a possible huge explosion of high energy from the sun. GPS systems will go down, shipping will be affected and blackouts will occur in several areas. The massive solar phenomenon may bring coronal mass particles to the Earth, just like the Carrington Event in 1859.

An eruption on April 16, 2012 was captured here by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory in the 304 Angstrom wavelength, which is typically colored in red.

Plans on how Earth will cope after a massive explosion from the sun has been published by the British government. The report includes things that should be done during the event.

A massive solar phenomenon would disrupt transportation systems, cause blackouts and disrupt satellites, according to reports. The report also warns that GPS systems will go down for 3 days, leaving train networks and shipping affected. A total of 12 hours is reportedly the only time Earth will have to prepare for such a solar disturbance.Mobile phone networks and landlines are expected to be spared from the affect of the solar storm, but satellite communication and high frequency radios, commonly used as communication devices in shipping, will be affected.

one of the major possibility that will happen if major solar flares or massive solar storm happens.

The British document warns the public about the harmful effects that the ejection of a major coronal mass would bring to Earth. Solar flares pose a major risk.

“Space weather results from solar activity. Solar activity can produce X-rays, high energy particles and Coronal Mass Ejections of plasma. Where such activity is directed towards Earth there is the potential to cause wide-ranging impacts. These include power loss, aviation disruption, communication loss, and disturbance to (or loss) of satellite systems,” reports claim.

The last major coronal mass ejection that hit planet Earth, known as the Carrington Event, took place in 1859. It was a geomagnetic solar storm that was the biggest in 500 years. Although technology was not advance during that time, pylons still threw sparks during the event.

With power disturbances predicted, households are advised to have candles and emergency lightning to be able to cope for such an amount of time. Preparing for a solar storm is much the same way as preparing for other natural disasters, such as floods and storms. Drivers can also carry maps during the predicted 3-day failure of GPS systems.

Improvement for providing alerts for solar storms is suggested in the report. A power and communication infrastructure should be updated to include information for cases of such events. Planning on how to deal with the effects of a solar storm and coronal ejection should be taken seriously by companies and emergency services.

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