Big Solar Storm Can Destroy Internet in 2025

Summary

In 1859, British astronomer Richard Carrington witnessed the first recorded solar flare, now known as the Carrington Event. This massive solar storm caused spectacular auroras and disrupted telegraph systems worldwide. Today, the threat of another similar solar storm looms in 2025, potentially causing massive power outages and internet blackouts. The video delves into the science behind solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), explaining their impact on Earth's infrastructure and technology. It also explores the efforts to prepare for future storms, as humanity's dependence on electricity and satellites grows stronger than ever.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Carrington Event of 1859 was the largest solar storm ever recorded, first observed by British astronomer Richard Carrington.
• 😀 Solar storms can cause auroras to appear far beyond the poles, sometimes visible in tropical regions like Panama, Jamaica, and Cuba.
• 😀 A solar storm as intense as the Carrington Event could cause massive disruptions to power grids, potentially leaving millions without electricity for years.
• 😀 Solar flares are explosive events on the Sun that release bursts of magnetic energy, which can affect Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.
• 😀 These solar flares create electric currents in Earth's atmosphere, leading to stunning auroras but also disrupting communication and navigation systems like GPS and radio signals.
• 😀 Strong solar storms can cause satellites to lose orbit, as seen in Winter 2022 when 40 Starlink satellites were knocked out of orbit.
• 😀 Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are large plasma eruptions from the Sun that can damage satellites and power grids and disrupt electronic systems.
• 😀 In the event of a powerful solar storm, technology we depend on today—like power grids, satellites, and communications—could suffer severe damage.
• 😀 Experts predict a 2-3% chance of another Carrington-level solar storm occurring in the 2020s, which could set humanity back by up to 20 years.
• 😀 While we can monitor sunspot activity to predict solar storms up to two days before they strike, better preparation and protection for technology are crucial to avoid catastrophic impacts.

Q & A

What was the Carrington Event?

The Carrington Event was the largest solar storm ever recorded, observed in 1859 by British astronomer Richard Carrington. It was the first solar flare ever documented and caused significant auroras and electrical disruptions.

How did the solar storm of 1859 affect people on Earth?

The 1859 solar storm caused intense auroras visible as far as the tropics, such as Panama, Jamaica, and Cuba. People in Missouri could even read books at night, thinking it was daylight. The storm also caused telegraph systems to malfunction and even send messages without batteries.

What could a solar storm like the Carrington Event do to modern society?

A solar storm as strong as the Carrington Event could cause massive power outages, blackouts, and internet disruptions, potentially leaving millions without power and communications for months or even years, with damages potentially reaching trillions of dollars.

How do solar flares occur?

Solar flares are explosive events that occur when magnetic energy builds up in the Sun and is released suddenly. This causes a burst of electromagnetic radiation that travels through space, impacting bodies like Earth.

What are auroras and why are they seen during solar storms?

Auroras are stunning light displays caused by solar storms. When solar radiation interacts with Earth’s magnetic field, it produces electric currents that heat the upper atmosphere, creating beautiful light displays, especially near the poles.

What was the impact of solar storms on satellites and technology in recent years?

In recent years, solar storms have impacted technology, including satellites. For example, in 2022, a solar storm knocked over 40 Starlink satellites out of orbit. Solar storms can damage microchips and disrupt satellite communications and other technologies.

What are Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and how do they relate to solar storms?

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are massive bubbles of solar material, including billions of tons of plasma, which are ejected from the Sun during solar storms. These CMEs can travel at millions of miles per hour and cause disruptions to Earth’s magnetic field, satellite systems, and electrical grids.

What kind of damage can solar storms cause to power grids?

Solar storms can induce electric currents in Earth's atmosphere that can overload power grids. This disruption can result in widespread power outages, and repairing such damage can take years, as seen during the 1989 solar storm in Quebec.

How often do solar storms reach their peak intensity?

Solar storms reach their peak intensity every 11 years, following a solar cycle. While most storms do not significantly affect Earth, there is a small chance (2-3%) of a Carrington-level event occurring in this decade.

How can humanity prepare for future solar storms?

To prepare for future solar storms, steps can be taken to protect power grids, satellites, and undersea cables. Researchers are also working on methods to predict solar storms and improve the resilience of technology that could be impacted by these events.