Prepare for the Worst, Because Solar Storms Are About to Get Ugly

25	Prepare for the Worst, Because Solar Storms Are About to Get Ugly	Category	Hits	Poster	Date
		Science	244	Hyack	2008-03-27 09:45:30
	Every 11 years or so, the sun gets a little pissy. It breaks out in a rash of planet-sized sunspots that spew superhot gas, hurling clouds of electrons, protons, and heavier ions toward Earth at nearly the speed of light

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by camerontech Resource id #44
Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:27 pm
I blame global warming.
by stemmer Resource id #45
Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:41 am
Don't tell Gore or Suzuki!!!!!
by ziggy Resource id #46
Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:52 am
It's a natural cycle,ham radio enthusiasts wait years for this as they can work the skip and talk to people all over the world easier then usuall.It also makes for some awesome northern lights.Everyone predicted doom and gloom the last time it was at its peak but most radio comm.s worked just fine.
by Bacardi4206 Resource id #47
Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:52 am
I blame global warming.
:roll:
by BartSimpson
Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:53 am
The sun has no effect on the earth, just ask Algore. :wink:
by Bacardi4206 Resource id #49
Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:54 am
It's a natural cycle,ham radio enthusiasts wait years for this as they can work the skip and talk to people all over the world easier then usuall.

How do you suppose that will happen? "These solar windstorms have been known to knock out power grids and TV broadcasts, and our growing reliance on space-based technology makes us more vulnerable than ever to their effects."
by DrCaleb Resource id #50
Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:57 am
Space Weather is one of my favourite sites. The Chandra telescope and SOHO observatory are also stunning.

Seeing the power of our plain ordinary little star is just humbling.

http://www.spaceweather.com/

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/gallery/Movies/flares.html
by BartSimpson
Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:58 am
Solar storms happen frequently enough and satellites are designed to survive such things. It'll be interesting, maybe slightly disruptive, but then when it's over it'll be promptly forgotten.
by ziggy Resource id #52
Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:59 am
Solar storms happen frequently enough and satellites are designed to survive such things. It'll be interesting, maybe slightly disruptive, but then when it's over it'll be promptly forgotten.

For about 7-11 years,then it happens all over again,common knowledge in the freaqers world.
by DrCaleb Resource id #53
Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:00 am
It's a natural cycle,ham radio enthusiasts wait years for this as they can work the skip and talk to people all over the world easier then usuall.

How do you suppose that will happen? "These solar windstorms have been known to knock out power grids and TV broadcasts, and our growing reliance on space-based technology makes us more vulnerable than ever to their effects."

The increased ionization of the upper atmosphere reflects some radio signals better, blocks others. It also overloads some electrical networks.

The increased particle density can also drag LEO objects back to Earth sooner. Skylab was brought down because of a solar storm.

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