Author Topic: Fears of disruption as big solar storm set to hit Earth  (Read 149 times)

Mars

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Fears of disruption as big solar storm set to hit Earth
« on: March 07, 2012, 07:49:21 PM »
The site has a groovy video too.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17295337

7 March 2012 Last updated at 18:41 ET
Fears of disruption as big solar storm set to hit Earth

A strong solar storm is expected to hit Earth shortly, and experts warn it could disrupt power grids, satellite navigations systems and plane routes.

The storm - the largest in five years - will unleash a torrent of charged particles between 06:00 GMT and 10:00 GMT, US weather specialists say.

They say it was triggered by a pair of massive solar flares earlier this week.

It means there is a good chance of seeing the northern lights at higher latitudes, if the skies are clear.

The effects will be most intense in polar regions, and aircraft may be advised to change their routings to avoid these areas.

In the UK, the best chance to see them will be on Thursday night, the British Geological Survey says.
Complex network

"It's hitting us right in the nose," said Joseph Kunches, an expert at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa).

He described the storm as the Sun's version of Super Tuesday - in a reference to the US Republican primaries and caucuses in 10 states.

"Space weather has gotten very interesting over the past 24 hours," Mr Kunches added.

The charged particles are expected to hit Earth at 4,000,000 mph (6,400,000 km/h), and Noaa predicts the storm will last until Friday morning.

Images of from the Sun's region where the flares happened show a complex network of sunspots indicating a large amount of stored magnetic energy.

Other solar magnetic storms have been observed in recent decades.

One huge solar flare in 1972 cut off long-distance telephone communication in the US state of Illinois.
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Deb

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Re: Fears of disruption as big solar storm set to hit Earth
« Reply #1 on: March 08, 2012, 12:11:58 AM »
Wow - I hope it's clear tonight!

Mishka1

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Re: Fears of disruption as big solar storm set to hit Earth
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2012, 12:22:08 AM »
Suppossed to hit anytime now.
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orogenicman

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Re: Fears of disruption as big solar storm set to hit Earth
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2012, 01:15:10 AM »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4xKRBkBBEP0

Here is the the Solar Dynamics Observatory video of the flare.  It's very impressive.
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Mountain Mamma

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Re: Fears of disruption as big solar storm set to hit Earth
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2012, 01:22:41 PM »
In layman's  terms, what exactly is a "Solar Storm?"   Sorry to sound so ignorant. 

Mars

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Re: Fears of disruption as big solar storm set to hit Earth
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2012, 01:32:03 PM »
Wow - I hope it's clear tonight!

socked in with clouds and rain here for the next several days- but I live too far south to see the spectacle anyway. 

Oro, do you know how far down in the America's it might be visible? It's on my bucket list. One day I will see an Aurora.

MM- it's not ignorant. It's a bigger blast of solar particles  ( this one is moving 4,000,000 mph solar blast of particles busting out from a flare on the sun-) that cause the northern lights. They say people who live further south than normally can see them, will be able to witness it. I'd love to see it myself.

Like seen here:  http://goodnature.nathab.com/northern-lights-natures-winter-magic/
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orogenicman

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Re: Fears of disruption as big solar storm set to hit Earth
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2012, 02:13:53 PM »
Wow - I hope it's clear tonight!

socked in with clouds and rain here for the next several days- but I live too far south to see the spectacle anyway. 

Oro, do you know how far down in the America's it might be visible? It's on my bucket list. One day I will see an Aurora.

MM- it's not ignorant. It's a bigger blast of solar particles  ( this one is moving 4,000,000 mph solar blast of particles busting out from a flare on the sun-) that cause the northern lights. They say people who live further south than normally can see them, will be able to witness it. I'd love to see it myself.

Like seen here:  http://goodnature.nathab.com/northern-lights-natures-winter-magic/

I'd say that it would have to be nearly strong enough to knock out the North American power grid before you could see it in your part of Texas, but I could be wrong.  The last one got as far south as Wisconsin, and they had a great light show, I'm told.  It has been south as far as here in Louisville numerous times.  I've only seen it once here, and it wasn't much to look at then.
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Deb

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Re: Fears of disruption as big solar storm set to hit Earth
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2012, 02:51:42 PM »
aw... according to Dr. Ben Taylor from the Surrey Space Centre:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/9131460/How-the-solar-flare-will-affect-the-UK.html

The Northern Lights could be visible from as far South as Scotland. Since I live about 400 miles south of Scotland..that's that then :(

Mars

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Re: Fears of disruption as big solar storm set to hit Earth
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2012, 03:17:20 PM »
Wow - I hope it's clear tonight!

socked in with clouds and rain here for the next several days- but I live too far south to see the spectacle anyway. 

Oro, do you know how far down in the America's it might be visible? It's on my bucket list. One day I will see an Aurora.

MM- it's not ignorant. It's a bigger blast of solar particles  ( this one is moving 4,000,000 mph solar blast of particles busting out from a flare on the sun-) that cause the northern lights. They say people who live further south than normally can see them, will be able to witness it. I'd love to see it myself.

Like seen here:  http://goodnature.nathab.com/northern-lights-natures-winter-magic/

I'd say that it would have to be nearly strong enough to knock out the North American power grid before you could see it in your part of Texas, but I could be wrong.  The last one got as far south as Wisconsin, and they had a great light show, I'm told.  It has been south as far as here in Louisville numerous times.  I've only seen it once here, and it wasn't much to look at then.

Ha! Getting half way down Texas would probably NOT be a good thing. :)

Ah, I'm sorry Deb. As far south as Scotland.... That certainly lets Texas off the path.
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