5 ms·
I hadn't heard of the Carrington event (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859). Even in 1859 it cau
by jefffoster 15y ago
I hadn't heard of the Carrington event (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859). Even in 1859 it caused havoc, so it's interesting to think what it would do to modern infrastructure. From the article:
Telegraph systems all over Europe and North America failed in some cases even shocking telegraph operators. Telegraph pylons threw sparks and telegraph paper spontaneously caught fire. Some telegraph systems appeared to continue to send and receive messages despite having been disconnected from their power supplies.
- chopsueyar 15y agoSome telegraph systems appeared to continue to send and receive messages despite having been disconnected from their power supplies. What would cause this?
- rcthompson 15y agoTelegraph signals are sent by turning on and off the current in the wire. If the solar storm generates a sporadic electrical potential (rather than a constant unchanging one), then the receiver will get an apparent transmission, although it will be complete gibberish.
- chopsueyar 15y agoSo how long is the solar storm duration?