More Active Sun Means Nasty Solar Storms...AKA My GPS Quit Working

[Guest SUNTZU]

Article

The sun is about to get a lot more active, which could have ill effects on Earth. So to prepare, top sun scientists met Tuesday to discuss the best ways to protect Earth's satellites and other vital systems from the coming solar storms.

Solar storms occur when sunspots on our star erupt and spew out flumes of charged particles that can damage power systems. The sun's activity typically follows an 11-year cycle, and it looks to be coming out of a slump and gearing up for an active period.

"The sun is waking up from a deep slumber, and in the next few years we expect to see much higher levels of solar activity," said Richard Fisher, head of NASA's Heliophysics Division. "At the same time, our technological society has developed an unprecedented sensitivity to solar storms. The intersection of these two issues is what we're getting together to discuss."

Fisher and other experts met at the Space Weather Enterprise Forum, which took place in Washington, D.C., at the National Press Club.

Bad news for gizmos

People of the 21st century rely on high-tech systems for the basics of daily life. But smart power grids, GPS navigation, air travel, financial services and emergency radio communications can all be knocked out by intense solar activity.

A major solar storm could cause twenty times more economic damage than Hurricane Katrina, warned the National Academy of Sciences in a 2008 report, "Severe Space Weather Events—Societal and Economic Impacts." [Photos: Sun storms.]

Luckily, much of the damage can be mitigated if managers know a storm is coming. That's why better understanding of solar weather, and the ability to give advance warning, is especially important.

Putting satellites in 'safe mode' and disconnecting transformers can protect electronics from damaging electrical surges.

Space Weather forecasting is still in its infancy, but we're making rapid progress," said Thomas Bogdan, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colo.

Eyes on the sun

NASA and NOAA work together to manage a fleet of satellites that monitor the sun and help to predict its changes.

A pair of spacecraft called STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) is stationed on opposite sides of the sun, offering a combined view of 90 percent of the Solar Surface. In addition, SDO (the Solar Dynamics Observatory), which just launched in February 2010, is able to photograph solar active regions with unprecedented spectral, temporal and spatial resolution. Also, an old satellite called the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), which launched in 1997, is still chugging along monitoring winds coming off the sun. And there are dozens more dedicated to solar science.

"I believe we're on the threshold of a new era in which space weather can be as influential in our daily lives as ordinary terrestrial weather." Fisher said. "We take this very seriously indeed."

Edited June 10, 2010 by SUNTZU

[Guest jackdm3]

"got Compass?"

[Guest ScottD]

As an amateur radio operator, I say bring it on!

[Guest SUNTZU]

I posted this more as a heads up. Hunting for those who rely on GPS might be more exciting. I'm interested in what it will do for amateur radio, as well. Of course, they can't predict the weather here on Earth so I'll not hold my breath on this.

[enfield]

I'm so sick of this crap -- everything is a crisis these days. The solar cycle is 11 years +/-. We have an increase in solar activity every 11 years, followed by a decrease. You don't need a satellite and supercomputer to predict it.

I'm looking forward to a sunspot increase, as are other amateur radio operators all over the world.

[Mike.357]

I am pretty sure it is caused by global warming.

[Il Duce]

who freaking cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its not like this has never happened before. i wish the media etc would stop trying to spread paranoia, etc.

[Guest jackdm3]

Spreading fear sells Cheetoh's. But see, I ain't playin' that. I buy generic.

[Guest SUNTZU]

who freaking cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its not like this has never happened before. i wish the media etc would stop trying to spread paranoia, etc.

At least you blame it on the media. They generally distort the **** out of anything they can. I'm still interested in how this will affect a GPS unit.

[Mike.357]

At least you blame it on the media. They generally distort the **** out of anything they can. I'm still interested in how this will affect a GPS unit.

I cannot answer that Sun, but I do know it will not effect the AAA Road map in my truck

[Guest 6.8 AR]

Fry the satellites, Sun.

What's another emergency? It won't go to waste, either:D

[Guest Randy]

Wait for it........................... It is Bush's fault.

[memphismason]

I saw I guy the other day with a BUNCH of Sun Spots all over his skin.......oh wait a minute......

[Guest TargetShooter84]

Wait for it........................... It is Obama's fault.

Fixed it for ya!

[LagerHead]

As an amateur radio operator, I say bring it on!

That's what you say as an amateur radio operator. But what do you say as a little Filipino girl?

[Guest drv2fst]

I saw a show on the science channel recently that made a case that we are in for a real problem with solar radiation pretty soon. And this is not an 11 year cycle type issue. It's a modern humans have never seen this type of problem.

The problem is that the earth's magnetosphere is thinning between us and the sun and is due for a polarity reversal which will leave us without it's protection from radiation for a while. They claim that all types of radiation illness will escalate and most modern electronics would not work well. Apparently they can tell from crystal orientation in rock formations that this happens frequently in Earth's history but not since human civilization began. It does not coincide with any mass extinctions but could create some hard times.

[Guest Caveman]

I love it when people freak out about people freaking out. "WHO CARES, WHY IS EVERYONE FREAKING OUT ABOUT THIS STUPID STUFF, CRAZY IMBECILES!!!" But, why are you freaking out about other people freaking out? If you don't care then why the fluster buster? One freak out perpetuates other freak outs and the next thing you know THE WORLD IS BEING TAKEN OVER BY DAM DIRTY APES....

Silly rabbits....

[GTODALEP]

Better stock up on Sunblock 2000, and Tin Foil.

[NextExit]

FWIW my Directv is still working fine!

However my iPhone GPS was acting up yesterday.... hmmm.....

I saw a show on the science channel recently that made a case that we are in for a real problem with solar radiation pretty soon. And this is not an 11 year cycle type issue. It's a modern humans have never seen this type of problem.

The problem is that the earth's magnetosphere is thinning between us and the sun and is due for a polarity reversal which will leave us without it's protection from radiation for a while. They claim that all types of radiation illness will escalate and most modern electronics would not work well. Apparently they can tell from crystal orientation in rock formations that this happens frequently in Earth's history but not since human civilization began. It does not coincide with any mass extinctions but could create some hard times.

Was this on the science channel? Don't suppose you have a link on this? Would be interesting to read more details.

[GTODALEP]

Come to think of it, my son has been having trouble with facebook.

[enfield]

There ya have it -- it was on TV so it must be true.

[NextExit]

You mean the science channel would......lie??

[towerclimber37]

You mean the science channel would......lie??

Yes..yes they would...haven't you noticed how they keep saying that the sunspots are a product of the global warming?

They're pushing Global warming because it's a hot topic and every donkey butt the other side of the Mississippi and a couple on this side are squalling about it.

If you notice, they don't make shows refuting it do you?

[Wingshooter]

Hey, they were right about Y2K! Oh, wait.....