3 ms·

I hope we don't look at this in a few years wondering what should have been done... Is there any hope of avoiding huge problems due to solar flares happening i

I hope we don't look at this in a few years wondering what should have been done... Is there any hope of avoiding huge problems due to solar flares happening in the near/medium-term? A silver lining from the Coronavirus pandemic is that people may think about these rare events more.

ben_w 7y ago
Despite the low cost, the USA is unprepared: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23061684 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23061684
- throwaway_pdp09 7y ago
  Ditto the UK. See my other comment here.
oli5679 7y ago
On a personal level, maps batteries, generator and solar panels could come in handy. I think it's possible to prepare the grid too.
close04 7y ago
Depending on the magnitude of the storm, having enough advance notice would be enough. On a larger scale, turning off satellites, dialing down the amount of electricity distributed over the powerlines to allow headroom for that excess caused by the storm, having a lot of spares on standby, etc. On a smaller scale, individual readiness where possible (backup power generation, supplies, alternate telecommunication means, etc.). But there's a point beyond which there's no avoiding catastrophic issues - electricity and telecommunications down for extended periods of time, plus the myriad of side effects. As far as I know we have no feasible way today to completely mitigate the effects of a storm similar in scale to the 1859 one. A strong enough solar storm can induce currents able to simply melt the transmission lines (especially low resistance ones - ultra high voltage, 1000+kV) possibly causing fires along the way, destroy transformers, and more. There will always be a storm that surpasses the GIC tolerance on most or all transformers. Pipelines and any other type of cable of significant length would also be seriously affected.

3 ms·

I hope we don't look at this in a few years wondering what should have been done... Is there any hope of avoiding huge problems due to solar flares happening i

by FartyMcFarter 7y ago

ben_w 7y ago
Despite the low cost, the USA is unprepared: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23061684 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23061684
- throwaway_pdp09 7y ago
  Ditto the UK. See my other comment here.
oli5679 7y ago
On a personal level, maps batteries, generator and solar panels could come in handy. I think it's possible to prepare the grid too.
close04 7y ago
Depending on the magnitude of the storm, having enough advance notice would be enough. On a larger scale, turning off satellites, dialing down the amount of electricity distributed over the powerlines to allow headroom for that excess caused by the storm, having a lot of spares on standby, etc. On a smaller scale, individual readiness where possible (backup power generation, supplies, alternate telecommunication means, etc.). But there's a point beyond which there's no avoiding catastrophic issues - electricity and telecommunications down for extended periods of time, plus the myriad of side effects. As far as I know we have no feasible way today to completely mitigate the effects of a storm similar in scale to the 1859 one. A strong enough solar storm can induce currents able to simply melt the transmission lines (especially low resistance ones - ultra high voltage, 1000+kV) possibly causing fires along the way, destroy transformers, and more. There will always be a storm that surpasses the GIC tolerance on most or all transformers. Pipelines and any other type of cable of significant length would also be seriously affected.