How Solar Storms Affect Humans and Electronics on Earth | WSJ Future of Everything

Summary

The video explores the serious threats posed by solar storms, detailing their potential to disrupt satellites, power grids, and critical infrastructure. These storms, caused by massive plasma eruptions from the Sun, can lead to severe economic losses and long-lasting outages. While such events are rare, historical examples like the Carrington Event of 1859 and the 1989 Quebec blackout underscore the risks. Advances in forecasting and protective measures are being developed, but experts worry about unpredictable impacts and the limitations of current models. The video emphasizes the importance of preparedness to mitigate the catastrophic consequences of a major solar storm.

Takeaways

• 😀 Solar storms are massive eruptions from the Sun that release energy equivalent to 10,000 category five hurricanes, and can sometimes hit Earth.
• 😀 These storms can disrupt GPS satellites, harm astronauts with radiation, and cause geomagnetic disturbances that could knock out power grids for days or weeks.
• 😀 Severe solar storms could cost the economy tens of billions of dollars per day, with infrastructure like power grids and satellites at risk.
• 😀 The last significant solar storm occurred in the late 1800s, before the extensive electronic infrastructure we rely on today existed.
• 😀 Solar storms often include solar flares, solar energetic particles, and coronal mass ejections, all of which affect Earth's systems.
• 😀 The Sun's convection patterns, which involve hot plasma and electromagnetic fields, contribute to solar storms that can send plasma into space.
• 😀 Economists predict that a severe solar storm could result in a loss of $10 to $40 billion in GDP per day, depending on how long power grids are down.
• 😀 Solar flares damage satellites first, and their radiation can disrupt communications, navigation, and other space-based systems.
• 😀 Geomagnetic storms from solar storms can cause power grid failures and ripple effects throughout other critical infrastructure systems such as transportation and financial services.
• 😀 Past solar storms have caused power outages and even damage to infrastructure, with significant events in 1989 and the 1920s, but experts worry about even more severe storms today.
• 😀 Scientists and industry experts are improving solar storm forecasting and developing safeguards, including machine learning tools to predict space weather with more accuracy.

Q & A

What are solar storms and what impact can they have on Earth?

Solar storms are massive eruptions of energy from the Sun, which can send out plasma and energetic particles into space. These storms can disrupt GPS systems, damage satellites, affect power grids, and pose radiation risks to astronauts. In severe cases, they can cause power outages lasting hours, days, or even weeks, with potential economic losses in the billions of dollars per day.

What was the Carrington Event and why is it significant?

The Carrington Event, which occurred in 1859, was the most significant solar storm ever recorded. It was so powerful that it caused auroras visible in the Caribbean and overloaded telegraph systems, leading to sparks and fires. It serves as a historical reference for understanding the potential impact of future solar storms.

How often do severe solar storms occur, and how prepared is Earth for them?

Severe solar storms are rare but happen approximately once every 150 years. Although Earth has experienced significant storms before, modern infrastructure, such as power grids and satellites, makes us more vulnerable today. Scientists and industry experts have been working on improving forecasting tools and infrastructure safeguards to prepare for these events.

What are the major components of a solar storm?

Solar storms consist of solar flares, solar energetic particles, and coronal mass ejections. These components originate from the Sun’s surface and interact with the Earth's magnetic field, potentially causing disruptions to technology and infrastructure.

What is the potential economic impact of a severe solar storm?

The potential economic impact of a severe solar storm could be tens of billions of dollars per day, with losses in gross domestic product. The most significant risks involve disruptions to power grids and critical infrastructures such as telecommunications, transportation, and financial services.

What makes solar storms difficult to predict?

Solar storms are challenging to predict due to the complex physics involved in solar activity. The interaction between the Sun’s magnetic fields, plasma, and the Earth’s magnetic field is not fully understood, and the effects on infrastructure can vary. While data is improving, there are still many unknowns, making accurate forecasting difficult.

What were some historical examples of solar storms disrupting technology?

Solar storms have caused disruptions in the past, including a 1920s storm that shut down railroads in New York City, a 1970s event that triggered undersea mines and interfered with satellites, and the 1989 storm that shut down Quebec’s power grid for nine hours, affecting 6 million people.

How do solar storms affect satellites?

Solar storms can cause radiation from solar flares to damage satellites in orbit. This can disrupt communication and GPS systems, and in some cases, even damage the satellite's hardware.

What are some ways to mitigate the effects of solar storms on power grids?

Power grid operators can deploy crews to check the functioning of critical components like transformers, preventing them from overheating. They can also use forecasting tools to anticipate solar storms and take preventative measures to reduce the potential impact on infrastructure.

What role does artificial intelligence play in forecasting solar storms?

Artificial intelligence is being applied to space weather forecasting by processing vast amounts of data and helping to model the behavior of solar storms. AI can assist in predicting storm activity and understanding its potential impacts, improving preparedness for such events.