Yes, a solar superstorm is inevitable, said Professor Paul Cannon, the chair of the Royal Academy for Engineering study group on solar superstorm impact assessment. Before examining the impending sun solar superstorm, it is important to briefly explain what exactly a solar superstorm is. As the name suggests, a solar superstorm originates from the sun and is caused by ejection of tonnes of billions of particles and protons, which travel at extreme speed of a million miles per hour.
A sun solar superstorm is expected to happen in the near future and it could cause damages on electricity grid, GPS systems, satellites systems and aviation. Mobile network communication may also be affected. The earlier nations get prepared for this impending solar storm, the more that are able to minimize the damages.
Cutting communication could cost business and nations a lot of losses. Similarly, if countries have to go without power because of damages or blackout caused by the sun superstorm this also translates to immense losses. The avionics communication systems could also be threatened and this implies that airline operations may be halted owing to threat.
Solar superstorms occur between 100 and 200 years and the last major storm was witnessed in 1859, the Carrington event which was named after the British astronomer Richard Carrington. This was the last true sun solar superstorm.
According to the patterns in which these storms occur, there has been no major superstorm since then and only minor ones have occurred. It seems like the time is ripe for a major superstorm to strike. The report released by the Royal Academy of Engineering- Extreme space weather: impacts on engineered systems and infrastructure, warns that nations should get prepared but not panic.
Most of the superstorms miss the earth and they travel harmlessly into space. It is estimated that only about half of those storms that travel towards the earth interact with the environment and cause some damages. Otherwise, about half of those waves do not cause damages.
These storms are regular occurrences and although most of them do not reach the earth’s atmosphere, some do and could cause damages. There have been such solar superstorms, which have reached the earth, and one is the Carrington Event, which occurred in 1859. This was the last major superstorm, which affected telegraphy operations in Europe and North America.
There have been other small storms, which raised the levels of atmospheric radiation in 1956, 1972, 1989 and 2003. Major sun superstorms occur after every one to two centuries and if they reach the earth, they could cause extensive damages including polarizing satellite communication.
According to the report released by Royal Academy for Engineering headed by Paul Cannon, a superstorm is inevitable. It will strike in the near future causing damages on national grid, satellite communication and mobile networks.
In addition, passengers who could be flying may get exposure to a dose of radiation though it may be insignificant. The academy report suggests that UK needs to create a Space Weather Board to oversee impact assessment from superstorm. Apparently, it is not possible to predict the occurrence of the storm more than 30 minutes before it happens.
However, the report has noted that people should not panic but instead they should be prepared. When the sun solar superstorm strikes, it could damage satellites and some may never recover. It will also cause damages on transformers and knock down power line causing major blackouts.
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