The Little Solar Flare That Could
Regardless of whether you are a survivalist ready to flee to your safe spot, or a power grid executive, the thing you are watching for is an X-Class solar flare, and a large one at that. All types of extra-nasty space weather tend to be associated with the largest solar flares.
The biggest flare of recent times was an X28 in 2003. An X28 is 28 times more powerful than an X1, and X-Class flares are bigger than M-Class.
Consequently scientists are puzzled over a May 17 solar flare that was rated as M-Class. For some reason it triggered the first GLE (ground-level enhancement) to light up neutron monitors on Earth in six years.
“This solar flare was most unimpressive and the associated CME was only slightly more energetic,” said James Ryan, an astrophysicist at the University of New Hampshire Space Science Center (SSC). “And looking at it optically, it was remarkably dim, it was, all things considered, a 98-pound weakling of solar events.”
It could mean that power grids are able to be knocked out by a sun storm that is not big enough for engineers to prepare for. Hopefully the scientists can solve this puzzle soon.
Good morning, I live in a 52 y/o “tract housing” in Sarasota,Fl.
since moving in 14-1/2 years ago,It seems like every time we had a
severe weather thunderstorm,some antiquated electric transformer
would blow causing an inconvenience to approximately 128 homes in
my subdivision. What is amazing is that our neighbors across the
street would still have electricity and our side would be off.
We are the lightening capital of the world here on what is called
the sun coast (want to see something very cool, google FULGURITES)
anyway,in the past two years I have watched our county actually
install some kind of super transformers on very tall concrete poles
and the storm we had a couple of weeks ago would have knocked out
the power two years ago.
Does anyone know if this is going on in other parts of our country
(USA)or on a global basis. And if the government is actually doing
something to upgrade the power grid,I would think Obama would be
using this as “bragging rights” since this is the year of a
presidential election. I would love to know. Thanks,Steve
Not happening in my section of Jacksonville, FL….I still have the same transformer that blows up everytime there is a storm. My street goes out too…while others across the canal are still on! Frustrating, huh?