Coronal Mass Ejection headed to Earth on Oct. 30

The sleeping giant seems to have awoken.  Although the Sun is in a solar maximum, it has been relatively quiet - that is until recently.  The Sun has released three solar flares in the last three days. The latest flare was an X-class flare, which is the most intense flare the sun releases.  Be prepared for some solar storms on the 30th of October since the latest flare was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME).  At the very least this CME will cause some beautiful auroras and at the most extreme ends can disrupt our satellites and power grids.  

Government Plans Power Outage Drills

I have long expressed concerns over a potential power grid failure, as have many other individuals and organizations.  Finally, this issue is gaining much needed focus from government officials.  A joint drill is scheduled to take place in the US, Canada, and Mexico.  This drill will include many agencies - FBI, terrorism experts, government agencies, and utility workers.  This drill is set to take place November 13 and 14 and will focus on government reactions to such a crisis.

The Car Conundrum if We Lose Power

I've seen a lot of internet chat lately regarding concerns whether modern cars would continue to function after a massive solar storm.  

If an event similar to the 1859 Carrington Event were to occur today, it is hard to predict how much damage it would do to our daily lives.  In 1859, society's impact was very isolated, mostly just a lot of curiosity owing to the immense area and brightness of the auroras.  At that time, the telegraph was the most technologically affected system.  The communication systems and operators experienced sparks and flames coming from the equipment.  

Today's society is much different, though.  We have become so dependent upon the technology which has seeped in to every aspect of our lives (home, work, and personal).  The power grids?  They are protected by the copper grounding wires which are being stripped by immoral and dishonest thieves.  Would they fail or manage to hold together with a massive surge in energy?  We buy gas with a credit card - which requires satellite transmissions  We use the GPS on our phones and in our cars - again, satellite transmissions. We watch television which is powered by the power grid.  We drink water brought to our apartments by water companies powered by the grid and taken away by sewage companies again powered by the grid.  We depend on truckers to transport our fresh fruit from states and countries far outside our reach.  Want a McDonald's cheeseburger?  Think again, Ronald don't work in dark restaurants.

There are so many unknowns in this scenario.

So, what is my advice on buying a car in case of a solar flare?

1.  If you buy a modern vehicle, especially an electrical model - there is a risk of fire or wire malfunction - with or without a CME.  

2.  If you buy an older vehicle to fix it up, do it as a hobby.  Why put so much time and money into something that may only end up leaving you stranded?  

3.  Along with point #2 - you must still consider the fuel consumption if rebuilding an older vehicle.  You don't want to build a car that guzzles gas.  If the gas pumps aren't running (because they, like everything else, don't work without the power grids), you would still want a conservative car.   

The moral of the story - it's all a conundrum.  There are so many what-if's in this scenario and it may or may not happen in our lifetime.  So my advice?  Prepare yourself and your family just in case something should happen.  Worry more about the necessities (food, water, protection, and a plan) than buying new cars or building cement bunkers.  This isn't just a good idea for the solar flare fanatics (though I might be considered one since I did write a novel about the post-solar flare world).  This is a good idea for everyone since natural disasters happen all the time across the globe.  It's just common sense.  

Now go get some water and non-perishable foods to get you and your family started.  

M Class flare & huge CME on May 22

M Class flare followed by a huge CME (coronal mass ejection) on May 22.  Beautiful video!

Massive Solar Flare Expectations

How can we prepare for solar flares?  How do we know what to expect if a massive flare is headed for our beautiful blue planet?  We can learn from the history of the Carrington Event.  A normal solar flare takes a few days to reach the earth, however, during the 1859 event it reached our planet in a mere 18 hours.  If a similar event were to occur today, the earths magnetic field would be unable to catch all the particles.  This would result in an aurora that would no longer just be isolated to the poles and there may be auroras over the United States and the Caribbean.  Most of us would probably just see this as a fascinating display of color and beauty, however, we would be directly impacted if our electronics were stopped by this event.  What do you think would happen if such a huge event would cause power grid outages that would last years?  Would we be able to survive or do you think that mass chaos would break out?  

Large asteroid headed our way? Pray says NASA

That's about all the United States - or anyone for that matter - could do at this point about unknown asteroids and meteors that may be on a collision course with Earth, Bolden told lawmakers at a U.S. House of Representatives Science Committee hearing on Tuesday. 

An asteroid estimated to be have been about 55 feet (17 meters) in diameter exploded on Feb. 15 over Chelyabinsk, Russia, generating shock waves that shattered windows and damaged buildings. More than 1,500 people were injured.

Later that day, a larger, unrelated asteroid discovered last year passed about 17,200 miles (27,681 km) from Earth, closer than the network of television and weather satellites that ring the planet. 

The events "serve as evidence that we live in an active solar system with potentially hazardous objects passing through our neighborhood with surprising frequency," said Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, a Texas Democrat. 

"We were fortunate that the events of last month were simply an interesting coincidence rather than a catastrophe," said Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican, who called the hearing to learn what is being done and how much money is needed to better protect the planet. 

Nasa has found and is tracking about 95 percent of the largest objects flying near Earth, those that are .62 miles (1 km) or larger in diameter. 

"An asteroid of that size, a kilometer or bigger, could plausibly end civilization," White House science advisor John Holdren told legislators at the same hearing. 

But only about 10 percent of an estimated 10,000 potential "city-killer" asteroids, those with a diameter of about 165 feet (50 meters) have been found, Holdren added. 

On average, objects of that size are estimated to hit Earth about once every 1,000 years. 

"From the information we have, we don't know of an asteroid that will threaten the population of the United States," Bolden said. "But if it's coming in three weeks, pray." 

In addition to stepping up its monitoring efforts and building international partnerships, Nasa is looking at developing technologies to divert an object that may be on a collision course with Earth. 

"The odds of a near-Earth object strike causing massive casualties and destruction of infrastructure are very small, but the potential consequences of such an event are so large it makes sense to takes the risk seriously," Holdren said. 

About 66 million years ago, an object 6 miles (10 km) in diameter is believed to have smashed into what is now the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, leading to the demise of the dinosaurs, as well as most plant and animal life on Earth. 

The asteroid that exploded over Russia last month was the largest object to hit Earth's atmosphere since the 1908 Tunguska event when an asteroid or comet exploded over Siberia, leveling 80 million trees over more than 830 square miles (2,150 sq km).

Reuters

Dystopian Trailer

Sharing a video to the trailer of Pyrolysis.  Enjoy!

Solar Flares Make Music

Science never ceases to amaze me.  Scientists are able to take the sounds from the sun and form a compilation that resembles the sound of music - not the Julie Andrews type though.  It's fascinating that they are able to take these sounds and understand the sun's own language.  

Super Solar Storm Impact

A solar super storm usually occurs every 100 to 200 years.  The largest super storm on record was in 1859 and is referred to as the Carrington Event.  During this time, the technological reliance was nothing like we have today.  In 1859, Europe and North America experienced telegraph communication outages and some reports even consist of fires starting from the heat that flowed through the lines. 

 

A massive solar storm today would have an impact on electricity grids, satellites, aircraft, GPS, and mobile devices. The increased electric currents caused by the geomagnetic storms can cause instability in the power grid systems causing them to crash.  Satellites are at the front line of solar storms; some of our older satellites may take the brunt of such a flare and could have residual effects long after the event.  Many of the satellites have been designed to withstand a large majority of the solar extremes.  That being said, it is difficult to effectively predict what will happen if a major storm like the 1859 event. occurred today.  Additionally, the GPS systems, navigation systems, and aircraft could be impacted with the secondary particles and wreak havoc on the delicate systems. 

January 27 Coronal Mass Ejection