Finally, American scientists are warning that a powerful storm on the sun may create problems on Earth. Researchers say our planet could be a target of a strong solar storm. They note that in 1859, such a storm caused telegraph communications around the world to fail.
Scientists and the insurance company Lloyds of London recently warned that another big storm could cause even more damage. They say it could destroy modern communications and electric power supply grids.
Michael Wiltberger is a scientist with the National Center for Climate Research in Boulder, Colorado. He is developing a computer model to show the effects on Earth’s atmosphere as the solar wind changes in shape and intensity. He says strong winds in space can change the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field and let more energy enter the upper atmosphere.
Mr. Wiltberger says people have been observing dark areas on the sun, known as sun spots, for a long time. He says these observations have led to an understanding of the solar cycle.
“When Galileo pointed his telescope at the sun, he saw spots on the surface of the sun. And they’ve been keeping track of the number of spots and the location of the spots since roughly that period of time. So we’ve got about a couple of hundred years’ record of sun spots.”
Computer models of the solar cycle are meant to better predict severe weather in space. The geomagnetic solar storm that hit Earth in 1859 was the worst known solar storm. Astronomer Richard Carrington saw it and made pictures. That storm is now known as the Carrington Event.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25