k0xxx
Mr. Sunshine
Impressive headline, right? The article has some equally impressive statements.
"Several US media outlets have reported that NASA was warning the massive flare this month was just a precursor to a massive solar storm building that had the potential to wipe out the entire planet's power grid."
The headline is meant to get your attention (it certainly got mine), but don't be too worried. Although a massive solar storm is always a possibility, and it doesn't have to be in a year of "solar maximum", no one can actually predict such an event.
There are a lot of indicators that this next solar maximum will be one of the most active in a long time, but there are also indicators to the opposite. However, since the contrary evidence doesn't make for good headlines, it has been mostly ignored by the press.
So, will the 2012/2013 solar maximum actually be spectacularly active? I hope so, as for as the chance for my Amateur Radio interests, but nobody can predict if it will result in storms of damaging proportions. Be prudent and plan for the possibility, but don't let the sensational headlines overly concern you. At least not until they actually say a storm is headed our way.
"Several US media outlets have reported that NASA was warning the massive flare this month was just a precursor to a massive solar storm building that had the potential to wipe out the entire planet's power grid."
The headline is meant to get your attention (it certainly got mine), but don't be too worried. Although a massive solar storm is always a possibility, and it doesn't have to be in a year of "solar maximum", no one can actually predict such an event.
There are a lot of indicators that this next solar maximum will be one of the most active in a long time, but there are also indicators to the opposite. However, since the contrary evidence doesn't make for good headlines, it has been mostly ignored by the press.
So, will the 2012/2013 solar maximum actually be spectacularly active? I hope so, as for as the chance for my Amateur Radio interests, but nobody can predict if it will result in storms of damaging proportions. Be prudent and plan for the possibility, but don't let the sensational headlines overly concern you. At least not until they actually say a storm is headed our way.