NationStates Jolt Archive

Heh, this is pretty cool... according to CNN, there will be a sizable solar flare this afternoon over the Western Hemisphere. So, if your TV, cell phone, radio, etc., suddenly goes on the fritz for a few minutes, don't blame technology, blame the sun!

Also be glad that it won't be too big. I heard that a massive solar flare would have the potential to wreck electronics and the power grid, like a giant cosmic EMP. :eek:

What country will the flair be over? (not that i would see it even if it was directly above me in this weaather)

They said it would occur around 1PM (EST, I assume), so it should affect wherever it happens to be daylight at that time.

MSNBC's article (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16187534/), from yesterday, doesn't mention a specific time.

Space weather forecasters revised their predictions for storminess after a major solar flare erupted overnight, threatening damage to communication systems and power grids.

"We're looking for very strong, severe geomagnetic storming" to begin probably around midday Thursday, Joe Kunches, lead forecaster at the NOAA Space Environment Center, told Space.com Wednesday afternoon.

The storm is expected to generate aurorae or northern lights as far south as the northern United States on Thursday night. Astronauts aboard the international space station are not expected to be put at additional risk, Kunches said.

Radio communications, satellites and power grids could face potential interruptions or damage, however.

Solar flares send radiation to Earth within minutes. Some are also accompanied by coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, clouds of charged particles that arrive in a day or two. This flare unleashed a strong CME that's aimed squarely at Earth.

"It's got all the right stuff," Kunches said.

However, one crucial component to the storm is unknown: its magnetic orientation. If it lines up a certain way with Earth's magnetic field, then the storm essentially pours into our upper atmosphere. If the alignment is otherwise, the storm can pass by the planet with fewer consequences.

Kunches and his team are advising satellite operators and power grid managers to keep an eye on their systems. In the past, CMEs have knocked out satellites and tripped terrestrial power grids. Engineers have learned to limit switching at electricity transfer stations, and satellite operators sometimes reduce operations or make back-up plans in case a craft is damaged.

Another aspect of a CME involves protons that get pushed along by the shock wave. Sometimes these protons break through Earth's protective magnetic field and flood the outer reaches of the atmosphere—where the space station orbits—with radiation. The science of it all is a gray area, Kunches said. But the best guess now is that there will only be a slight increase in proton activity. That's good news for the astronauts.

"When the shock goes by, we don't expect significant radiation issues," he said.

The astronauts were ordered to a protective area of the space station as a precaution last night.

Now that sunspot number 930 has flared so significantly — after several days of being quiet — the forecast calls for a "reasonble chance" of more major flares in coming days, Kunches said.

Could be some pretty aurora activity tonight over northern North America.

If you consider that the radiation flux of some solar flares is more intense than any that can be generated by any linear accelerator on Earth, it doesn't sound like a good place to be in an essentially radiation transparent tin can in orbit.

I thought it was impossible to predict solar flares.

I thought it was impossible to predict solar flares.

The flare already happened. Once it does, they can predict the arrival of the radiation.

I always wanted to see an Aurora bloody non-Canadianess :(

considering I'm still freaked out after nearly 2 years since watching that episode of terror alert you can be fairly sure I’m sleeping with my baseball bat tonight

The flare already happened. Once it does, they can predict the arrival of the radiation.

Ah, this makes sense.

The flare already happened. Once it does, they can predict the arrival of the radiation.

Oh nos! Duck and Cover! :p

The radiation already hit, what's incoming now is mostly the plasma and gas.

Though one has to wonder why they're talking about electromagnetic effects when the EM wave from the flare would of hit at the same time the flare was detected.

The radiation already hit, what's incoming now is mostly the plasma and gas.

Though one has to wonder why they're talking about electromagnetic effects when the EM wave from the flare would of hit at the same time the flare was detected.

Hmm ... I don't know. As long as 1) my cable doesn't go out and 2) we get some pretty lights in the sky, this works for me.

Let me put some fears and myths to rest. You'd never be able to see it with your eyes, only the effects of it as the northern or southern lights depending on where it hits. It'd take a huge flare to knock out electronics on the ground but not so much for satellites. Flares can also kill crews of ships outside of Earths protective sheild, the magnetosphere, so either be sure your interplanetary transport is well shielded or your trip is scheduled around any flares.

Let me put some fears and myths to rest. You'd never be able to see it with your eyes, only the effects of it as the northern or southern lights depending on where it hits. It'd take a huge flare to knock out electronics on the ground but not so much for satellites. Flares can also kill crews of ships outside of Earths protective sheild, the magnetosphere, so either be sure your interplanetary transport is well shielded or your trip is scheduled around any flares.

You're no fun at all. :(

You're no fun at all. :(
Well I am studying to be an architect and engineer.

Well I am studying to be an architect and engineer.

That explains it. :p

I hope it clears up enough I can see the norhern lights. I've never seen them before.