A solar superstorm could strike on a global scale and destroy technology and power grids without hesitation, scientists warn.
Experts are sounding the alarm bells on the increasing probability of a solar superstorm – an extremely large burst of solar energy which could potentially incapacitate modern society’s essential infrastructure. Scientists say it could happen at any moment, with disastrous effects on communications systems, satellites, technology, or power grids across the planet.
The Allure of the Solar Superstorm
Solar superstorms are formally known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which occur when the Sun emits enormous clouds of magnetised plasma into space. If the clouds happen to cross planet Earth, these eruptions can create geomagnetic storms that distort the magnetic field of the Earth and generate large electrical currents in power lines and pipes.
The most popular example of a solar storm was the 1859 Carrington Event, which caused telegraph systems to fail and set fire to some telegraph stations. A similar event today would have far more catastrophic consequences due to our continued reliance on electrons and electricity.
Modern Vulnerabilities
Modern Vulnerabilities. One study published in Space Weather estimates that a storm like Carrington would have damages well into the trillions, both tangible and intangible, and would lead to blackouts lasting weeks or months. Those systems at risk include:
- Electrical grids
- GPS and satellite communications
- Aviation and undersea cables
Dr Lisa Upton, a solar physicist and consultant at the Space Systems Research Corporation, warns, “We’ve been lucky, but luck doesn’t last forever. The sun works on an 11-year cycle, and we are about to enter a more active period of the solar cycle.”
Preparing for the Inevitable
While scientists, notably, continue to monitor the sun using various satellites like NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), predicting if or when a superstorm would occur remains arduous. Governments and utilities should:
- Increase electrical grid resiliency with surge protectors and backup systems.
- Create early-warning protocols to shut down at-risk infrastructure temporarily.
- Invest in space weather research to better forecast and predict storms.
“The question is not if we will see another Carrington-like storm again, but rather when, warns Dr Daniel Baker from the University of Colorado. “Preparedness is the best defence.”
Conclusion
As solar activity increases, the need for worldwide preparedness escalates. Without a hefty investment in infrastructure hardening and a mechanism for early warning, the next solar superstorm could lead to a technological disaster of those never seen before.
