Rising Solar Winds: The Impact of Geomagnetic Storms
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Chapter 1: Understanding Solar Winds
Deep within our solar system, just beneath the sun’s surface, a cloud of plasma is erupting, propelling protons and electrons into space at speeds exceeding one million miles per hour. This phenomenon, termed a coronal mass ejection (CME), occurs regularly but varies in frequency over an 11-year cycle. During quieter periods, we may observe one or two ejections weekly; however, during peak activity, multiple ejections can occur each day. When these fast-moving plasma clouds reach Earth, they can trigger geomagnetic storms that may disrupt internet connectivity.
In 1989, a solar storm caused a major outage of the Hydro-Québec power grid, affecting six million residents. All contemporary electrical devices, from satellites to power grids and communication systems, are vulnerable to such disruptions. Currently, as we embark on a new 11-year cycle, we anticipate a rise in CME activity, peaking around 2025.
The first video, "Solar Winds Rising," delves into the nature of solar winds and their potential effects on Earth’s technology.
Section 1.1: The Mechanics of Coronal Mass Ejections
Coronal mass ejections occur across various regions of the sun, each acting like a cannon shooting a plasma cloud into space. Most ejections are not directed at Earth; however, when one is, it takes several days to traverse the 93 million miles to our planet. Upon arrival, the solar wind can induce significant geomagnetic storms.
As these storms impact Earth, they compress the magnetic field on the daylight side and elongate it on the night side. This interaction disrupts electric fields and can lead to stunning displays of the aurora borealis, which can extend further south during intense events.
Subsection 1.1.1: Storm Surges and Their Effects
People living in coastal regions are familiar with storm surges and king tides. While storm surges push ocean water inland due to low pressure and wind, king tides result from the alignment of the sun and moon’s gravitational forces. Similarly, solar winds can create unusual conditions, amplifying the effects of geomagnetic storms.
The strength of a solar storm is largely dictated by the force behind the initiating CME. More powerful eruptions create larger, faster plasma clouds. If a smaller ejection is followed by a larger one from the same area, they can collide in space, resulting in a superstorm that poses an increased threat to any planet in its path, including Earth.
Section 1.2: The Threat of Superstorms
When a superstorm strikes, the damage can exceed that of the individual storms. Bill Murtagh, program coordinator at the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, noted, “For all practical purposes, we have determined that our worst-case scenario for an extreme geomagnetic storm event will indeed be this.”
Chapter 2: Historical Context - The Carrington Event
In 1859, amateur astronomer Richard Carrington recorded exceptionally strong solar flares linked to a major CME. Approximately eighteen hours later, on September 1st and 2nd, Earth endured the most significant geomagnetic storm in history. The northern lights were visible as far south as the equator, and telegraph systems experienced severe disruptions, with some operators receiving electric shocks and fires igniting from overheated equipment.
With our reliance on electrical systems having grown exponentially since the Carrington Event, a significant loss of power would plunge us back into a pre-electricity era, albeit temporarily. Such an event would have disastrous implications in a society that depends on constant communication and information processing.
Without access to social media, many may struggle with isolation and despair, potentially leading to a crisis of critical thought. They would find themselves helpless against the solar storm surge, overwhelmed by social disconnection and unable to navigate their daily lives.
The second video, "Solar Flares vs Northern Lights vs Sunspots," discusses the recent uptick in solar activity observed in May 2024 and its implications for geomagnetic storms.
The EarthSphere Blog: Exploring life and the planet supporting it. (Write for the EarthSphere Blog) More from ArcheanWeb: ArcheanWeb: Exploring the environment, art, science, and more ArcheanArt: Innovative digital art ArcheanWeb On Medium: EarthSphere Publication — Science and the environment Dropstone Publication — Stories, life observations, art, and more Books: Reflections on life’s journey and thoughts on the Tao Te Ching — In Search of a Path A fictional adventure about the origins of life — The Strings of Life Sources: What are coronal mass ejections? (By Christopher Crockett; EarthSky) ‘Cannibal’ solar storms are heading towards the Earth — and could take down satellites, power lines, and the internet (by Adam Smith; Independent) Carrington Event (Source: Wikipedia)