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NASA predicts massive solar flares in 2013, disrupting electronic devices
Frederick Chen8/14/2010 11:29 AM EDT
If we take the NASA warning seriously, we need to take some measures against the electromagnetic disturbances well before the 2012-2013 time frame. But maybe it is not so bad? Faraday cages might be easily constructed to shield data centers, satellites, airplane electronics, even consumer devices against most of the damage.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=131308§ionid=3510208
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KB3001
8/14/2010 1:25 PM EDT
Whether this turns out to be a real problem or not in 2012/3, we do not know, but such a scenario should be contemplated very seriously. Our over-reliance on ICT has always worried me. We need contingencies in place in case the whole of the electronic infrastructure fails.
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resistion
8/15/2010 2:15 AM EDT
Back to vacuum tubes and mechanical relays, I guess.
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resistion
8/15/2010 10:37 AM EDT
Maybe even these are not safe. Probably need special shelters.
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KB3001
8/15/2010 3:11 PM EDT
We need more decentralised and fault-tolerant systems. That should be part of design specs.
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phoenixdave
8/15/2010 12:42 PM EDT
Scenarios such as this from reputable organizations suggest that maybe we should take some of the crazy predictions associated with the end of the Mayan Calendar on December 21, 2012 a little more seriously....???
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greenpattern
8/16/2010 12:46 AM EDT
Yeah, the 2012 timing is kinda freaky. Seriously, we do need to protect our electronics better. I hope we can get some more details about this soon. It seems odd for NASA to announce without specific examples. For example, if a device is off, is it free from risk of induced currents? Will it affect cars (basic electrical system, not just automotive electronics) or electric motor vehicles? Electricity has become the currency of energy as well as information. Without electricity, we go back to the age of fire, and further deplete our natural resources and carbonize our atmosphere greenhouse.
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resistion
8/16/2010 9:05 AM EDT
A possible direction comes from the satellites observing the solar flares, like the EUV Observatory. What keeps them safe? They're getting the full blast.
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unknown multiplier
8/16/2010 9:25 PM EDT
Solar flare alerts have been coming throughout the years. Is there anything particularly special about the upcoming one? I think the alert this time is not quantitative enough to generate an accurate perspective, even though coming from NASA. We need to see graphs of solar flare radiation flux (EUV is the best tracer) for the past decades.
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lsharpe
8/19/2010 2:22 PM EDT
Hmmm...
New Solar Cycle Prediction
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2009/29may_noaaprediction/
"If our prediction is correct, Solar Cycle 24 will have a peak sunspot number of 90, the lowest of any cycle since 1928 when Solar Cycle 16 peaked at 78," says panel chairman Doug Biesecker of the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.
All of the four solar maxes since the transistor was invented have been stronger than what is predicted for 2013. No story here.
spaceweather.com is worth checking out, though...
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Bhola_#1
8/31/2010 12:30 AM EDT
where these predictions gonna be real threat or not, but i believe we humans have capability to solve it.
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