Today’s Big Solar Storm Might Only Be a Preview of Worse to Come
If Tumblr breaks today, you can blame the Sun. The video above shows an enormous M9 flare erupting from the Sun recently, which is the second most powerful rating for flares that we have. As I write this, we are being bombarded with solar protons, only saved by our magnetosphere.
We are at the beginning of a solar activity cycle that could lead to more events like this.
The coronal mass ejection (CME, and which always makes me giggle) sent energy particles hurtling towards Earth that will provide goo aurora fodder for the polar folks, but can disrupt electronics elsewhere.
“I’m not avoiding you, I didn’t get your call, it was totally the Sun.”
Madrigal pointed out this interesting tidbit: In 1859, a solar storm hit the Earth that was so strong, telegraphs could be powered by electrical currents in the air.
