Scientists have assessed the threat of destruction of humanity due to geomagnetic storms: today everything is different

Humanity is not in danger of an apocalypse due to solar flares

In recent years, an extensive system of satellites for observing the Sun has been created all over the world, thanks to which scientists receive data on the approach of a storm. Solar activity will increase next year, and, as many fear, it could bring down the power grid and the Internet.

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Professor David Wallace, a long-time member of the PES Transformers Committee, which is responsible for developing and updating standards and guidelines for and related to electrical transformers, said there are indeed consequences that can arise from large-scale geomagnetic storms. He explained that “geomagnetic storm G5— This is the strongest of them.» He explained that “in the 1920s there was a New York storm (the most powerful storm of the 20th century), when exactly the same strong influence of the Sun on the Earth on the scale of electromagnetic radiation occurred.” As a result, power or telegraph cables caught fire in buildings in New York and Russia. And in 1989 there was a storm in Quebec. Because of it, the electricity actually went out.

But today everything is different. Scientists understand the geomagnetic-induced currents that result from storms like this.

Today NASA has a whole complex of satellites for observing the Sun. Researchers have a very good monitoring system that monitors our Star and reports that a storm is approaching. With this advance notice, electric utilities can perform what's known as load shedding.

«Grid operators can reduce the load on the system so that when excess current flows through your cables, it won't overload your transformers because They already have less workload. And they can cope with the additional load placed on them,” — explains Wallace.

Currently this causes damage to small systems. There may be outages and substations that may not have enough “protection” and may fail. But this is something that is eliminated relatively quickly.

Now the connection – for example, the Internet – is provided by satellites, and as of May 2024, there are 3,135 communications satellites in Earth orbit. Obviously, both satellites and other GPS navigation may experience malfunctions. Of course, Professor Wallace emphasized, “there are ways in which satellite protection can be strengthened to ensure more continuous signal transmission. On Earth, the same thing happens with antennas for radio stations. But it would be short-lived. When the storm subsides, communication will be restored.”

Do not forget that all strategically important facilities have emergency backup systems that will operate and provide electricity. Thus, humanity can be calm: there will be no apocalypse on Earth due to solar activity.