Satellites at Risk from Mega Space Storm
Aurora during a geomagnetic storm that was most likely caused by a coronal mass ejection from the Sun on 24 May 2010. Taken from the ISS. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We are protected from solar storms by a cloud of charged particles, or plasma, that normally surrounds Earth out to a distance of four times the planet’s radius. Each Earth-directed solar outburst damages the cloud to some degree, and with time it repairs itself. A 2003 storm reduced the cloud to just 4 Earth radii. Scientists believe that a repeat of 1859’s Carrington Event would completely wipe out the plasma cloud, leaving us vulnerable for the following decade.
Certainly, in such a scenario, our satellites would be at great risk and we would expect to lose some or even all of them. Earth-based electrical systems would also face major damage. It really comes down to the odds of two Carrington Events occurring within a decade. We haven’t been observing the Sun long enough to know how likely or unlikely that is. But if we survive one, prudent survivalists would start preparing for the second one.
Source: New Scientist
(this story is from 18 months ago, BTW, I’m going through piles of unfinished business…)
