What Are Solar Storms?
Answer: Normal. The activity cycle of the sun peaks about every 11 years, with the next peak around 2012-2014. Doomsday theorists use this proximity to the existing 2012 nonsense to make this seem like a real threat.
During a storm, flares throw protons and electrons out into space. The acceleration produces X-ray blasts as well. Both the particles and radiation can disrupt short-wave communication on Earth. No physical damage is done to humans, plant life, etc, thanks to the protection of our atmosphere and magnetosphere!
BUT THERE IS SOME SCIENCE BEHIND HERE…
It’s true that Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections can have some effect on Earth, but it’s more to satellite and radio communication. This is becoming less of a concern, as engineers are learning how to build equipment that doesn’t feel the effects of the sun’s radiation!
According to NASA:
Solar activity has a regular cycle, with peaks approximately every 11 years. Near these activity peaks, solar flares can cause some interruption of satellite communications, although engineers are learning how to build electronics that are protected against most solar storms. But there is no special risk associated with 2012. The next solar maximum will occur in the 2012-2014 time frame and is predicted to be an average solar cycle, no different than previous cycles throughout history.
Sources:
1) Solar Storms – Special to the Washington Post – Sten Odenwald http://solar.physics.montana.edu/press/WashPost/Horizon/196l-031099-idx.html
2) Powerful Solar Storms Could Shut Down the U.S. for Months – Fox News – http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,478024,00.html
3) Ask an Astrobiologist – http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/ask-an-astrobiologist/intro/nibiru-and-doomsday-2012-questions-and-answers
4) NASA – http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html
I'll explain why that is a very poor source and why you need to read between the lines.
That silly little article is a cut and paste from various sources. I have read the NASA quote and the quote is that there
is no special risk associated with the coming solar maximum. In fact, the quote was directly associated with 2012 loons. It doesn't mean there is no risk, it means, there is no particular significant risk that could be misconstrued as the source of the doom, predicted for 2012.
Here it is in its entirety:
: Is there a danger from giant solar storms predicted for 2012?
A: Solar activity has a regular cycle, with peaks approximately every 11 years. Near these activity peaks, solar flares can cause some interruption of satellite communications, although engineers are learning how to build electronics that are protected against most solar storms. But there is no special risk associated with 2012. The next solar maximum will occur in the 2012-2014 time frame and is predicted to be an average solar cycle, no different than previous cycles throughout history.
› Video: Solar Storms
› More about solar storms
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html#solar--
Secondly, the "sources" is an interesting read, given that source 2 if a Fox News article saying the opposite to what is being claimed in that paste - Fox News is not a credible source for information, but why on earth would someone use a Fox News article saying the exact opposite in a reference list.
Sometimes it's difficult to for layman to understand the veracity of a source in a situation like this because on the one hand, you've got the sane people - and the other is the media who sell doom and the doomsday loons themselves. As a result, you can read a lot of stuff that isn't the whole story, but it is engineered to dispell the bullshit artists running with it.
The truth is somewhere in the middle. There could be a larger CME and it is implicit fact that a CME has taken power out before (1989 in quebec)
Read this if you need more information
http://www.zurich.com/internet/main/SiteCollectionDocuments/insight/solar-storms-impact-on-power-supply.pdfInduced power is no joke. It happens. Tomorrow, in my little corner of the world, I have to go into work and write code to detect induced power on data lines in large commercial buildings.