Solar Superstorms: Real And Not So Real Dangers

Despite the headlines, an internet apocalypse is unlikely. While the sun has been increasingly active, it’s been a long time since the sun belched out enough energy to take down the internet. Solar Superstorms are an eventual reality, but the suggestion they’ll take out the cables that keep our planet interconnected is not what we should be concerned with.

Scientists understand that solar superstorms can cause risks to Earth. In the case of one the size of the biggest one on record, there’s reason to believe communications disruptions will be a reality. During that event, telegraph operators received electrical shocks, and there were reports of fires starting.

It would be simpler to bounce back from one of the monster solar storms hitting Earth if you were in the 19th century. The loss of the internet could send people into a tailspin. We live in an era where civil unrest has been the answer to so many things, what would the world look like if a solar superstorm happened? First, what is at risk from a solar superstorm?

Risks of Solar Superstorms

While it might suck to not see how cats love cheeseburgers, what the Kardashians are doing, or chime in on the Elon vs. Zuckerberg situation, there are genuine issues that come with a solar superstorm. Should a worst-case level storm happen your Instagram followers will be the least of your worries.

Power Grid Disruptions: Intense solar activity can generate powerful electromagnetic radiation and charged particles. If a Coronal Mass Ejection, or CME, directly impacts Earth, it can induce strong electrical currents in power lines and transformers, leading to widespread power grid disruptions.

This can result in blackouts, affecting essential services and causing economic losses. The loss of power would effectively create an internet apocalypse. However, long-term power loss will cause the deaths of people that require machines.

Satellite Damage and Communication Disruptions: Solar superstorms can generate high-energy particles that can damage or disrupt satellite systems. Satellites play a crucial role in various sectors, including communication, weather monitoring, navigation, and military operations.

Disruptions in satellite systems can affect communication networks, weather forecasting, GPS navigation, and other services dependent on satellite technology. Internet outages could occur due to satellite damage, particularly in the case of Elon Musk’s Starlink system. If it's a question of having internet versus knowing when catastrophic weather comes, most people will choose to have the tech for the weather. Or would they?

Radiation Hazards for Astronauts and Air Travel: Solar superstorms can release a significant amount of radiation in the form of energized particles. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and future manned missions to the Moon or Mars face increased radiation risks during such events. Additionally, high-altitude air travelers, such as pilots and flight crews, may be exposed to elevated radiation levels.

Impact on Global Positioning System (GPS): Solar storms can interfere with the accuracy and reliability of GPS signals. The ionosphere, a layer of Earth’s atmosphere, can experience disturbances due to solar activity, leading to errors in GPS navigation and timing systems. This can have implications for transportation, aviation, and navigation-dependent industries.

Damage to Earth’s Magnetic Field: Solar superstorms can exert pressure on Earth’s magnetosphere, causing fluctuations and disturbances in the planet’s magnetic field. While Earth’s magnetic field protects against solar radiation, severe disturbances can impact the field’s stability and weaken its shielding effect. Since the magnetic field keeps the planet from roasting like a marshmallow on a stick, this is the worst outcome possible.

What Can Be Done

Presently, there is no solution to dealing with a solar superstorm. If one were to strike, we would have little notice before things go down. It’s up to people to decide what they believe and prepare accordingly. It's a survivable event that we've lived with and can live through again. There are a few things to stock up on or keep in storage, that are equally important for any catastrophic event.

Suggested items for such events include:

30 days of bottled water

Non-perishable foods

Generators

First aid supplies

Candles

Batteries for flashlights, portable radios, etc…

Items for our mental health: books, magazines, board games, and hobby items.

Hunting and fishing equipment

Self-Defense items to protect yourselves and your families.

Those are the items on the list of survival items in an apocalyptic event. Not every item is going to be for every family or household.

Conclusions

The world lasted a long time before the internet. Surviving without an endless supply of social media and porn is still possible. People would have to adjust. So, losing sleep over the internet apocalypse is not something worth doing.