When we talk about solar storms, there is a date that for some may come to mind. End of August, on the 28th of 1859, the largest solar storm on record. At its peak intensity, which was between September 1 and 2, it caused the failure of telegraph systems throughout Europe and North America. This event was baptized with the name of the Carrington event, by the English astronomer Richard Carrington. The magnitude was so strong, that even they were able to appreciate the northern lights in cities like Rome and Madrid medium latitude, and low latitude like Havana or the Hawaiian Islands.
The solar storm It also caused short circuits and fires in the recent installations of the telegraph cables. Speaking of the amount of problems caused by the phenomenon just over 150 years ago, when there was no current technological level, it is easy to predict that in a society so closely linked to telecommunications, the consequences would be much more serious. Our current dependence on the entire network infrastructure is higher.
What are solar storms?
Roughly speaking, It is called a solar storm to the flares that the Sun gives off towards our planet. In the case of 1859, which is the one we are comparing in the article, some previous spots appeared on the Sun in front of our planet. It is not about aiming and giving us, the magnitude that it occupies when it reaches us can cover up to 50 million km. About a third of the distance between the Sun and the Earth.
The coronal ejection of matter, the flares, took between 40 and 60 hours to reach our planet. The vast majority is true that they occur in a common and harmless way, leaving us shows like the famous northern lights. Very occasionally they are stronger and are known as EMP (electromagnetic pulse). They can damage many of our modern structures. Telephone, radio, networks, internet, etc.
It would cause a global catastrophe
The magnitude of an event like the one that occurred in 1859 would cause significant damage to satellites, electrical networks and systems, and even electricity generating plants. We can observe other storms of considerable magnitude, although far from those that were experienced at that time. The damages that these more "minor" have caused, we can see them reflected in satellites such as ANIK E1 and E2. Both telecommunications that were damaged in 1994. Another example in 1997 on the Telstar 401. Both cases eroded by cosmic rays on your solar panels.
Satellites are now being designed with "space weather" in mind, and although their shells are stronger, their electrical systems are still weak. The consequences of such failures can be seen reflected in 1994. Both telecommunication satellites caused numerous problems in the signals. Affecting communication networks, television, newspapers and radio channels in Canada.
In 1989,, a less intense storm than that of 1859, caused the Quebec hydroelectric plant in Canada to be inoperative for more than 9 hours. Damages and lost income were estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars.
How would it be?
One of the main things it would do would be that they would melt the power distribution coils. That from the beginning would cause large and extensive blackouts until they are repaired. Water distribution systems, which are electronically controlled would also be affected.
Internet, GPS signals, telephony, they would have a high probability of being affected and bankrupt. Air traffic should be disrupted. Households would be left without connection to the networks, and that would lead to misinformation. Depending on the magnitude and number of satellites and structures affected, the damage could last from a few days to weeks or months. Some predict that the consequences could even last for years. But little by little the whole network would be reestablished.
The big question is, how we would react as a civilization to this phenomenon. To the lose all our digital structure, it would leave us very helpless in how much to look for solutions too. So a great solar storm, we can say that would leave us paralyzed initially. Little by little over time things would go back to normal.
There has been movement by countries, like the famous Obama project when he was president in the USA. It was urged take measures for this type of phenomenon. Not because he believed it could happen, but so that if it did, he would not see his country plunged into chaos.