Massive solar storm to hit Earth in 2012 with 'force of 100m bombs'

[Cogman]

Y2k12?

 

[alrocky]

Darn Mayans and their calendar.

 

[Rubycon]

I thought I was getting a little rusty in my old age...

Careful where you stick your anode rod! 😱

 

[destrekor]

Space - it's like Earth is Mario and we're surrounded by ghosts.

Run away run away!!!

 

[pcgeek11]

Y2K All Over Again Yawn.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally Posted by disappoint
They can't predict a regular storm on Earth 2 weeks from now with any accuracy and I'm supposed to believe they can predict a solar one 2 years from now and how it will impact Earth? lulz...good one.

I think that's apples and oranges.

"They can't tell me if it's going to rain in 2 weeks, but you expect me to believe they can mange to predict eclipses and meteor showers years in advance?"

Not quite the same thing, is it?

Eclipses and meteor showers are known events that can be easily "predicted" based on solid facts and knowledge. The solar weather...not so easily predicted...hell, we know even less about what causes solar storms than we do about the storms here on Earth...and they don't get the weather right all that often...
(ever wake up to have to shovel 6 inches of "Partly Cloudy" off of your driveway?)

 

[dmcowen674]

So, worst case scenario is we're all in the dark ages for a few weeks?

Four to six years

 

[Miramonti]

with 'force of 100m f-bombs'

Holy fvckin fvckitash! 😱

 

[AMCRambler]

Wasn't there a movie about this with Nicholas Cage? "Numbers" I think it was?

Nick Cage is the best!

 

[destrekor]

Not quite the same thing, is it?

Eclipses and meteor showers are known events that can be easily "predicted" based on solid facts and knowledge. The solar weather...not so easily predicted...hell, we know even less about what causes solar storms than we do about the storms here on Earth...and they don't get the weather right all that often...
(ever wake up to have to shovel 6 inches of "Partly Cloudy" off of your driveway?)

While it is partially true that the solar scientists don't quite understand the phenomenon, they do have a fairly solid record and a mountain of evidence and knowledge of the solar cycle system. Weather systems on Earth are less predictable than the solar cycles, considering scientists have recorded the cycles for a few hundred years and can lean on previous records to gauge the current cycle.

And I believe that is what they are currently doing. IIRC, a recent journal article discussed how the sun is currently starting to dial it down a little, both output and storm activity; This is part of a long cycle, hundreds of years versus 11 year periods.
But based on my understanding of the charts they presented, it does appear that as it starts to decline, there is a short period of much higher intensity [when compared to the output and intensity of the years prior].

It's kind of like the edge of the bell curve as it declines, but instead of it displaying a smooth curve down, the graph would show it declining for a short while and then it rapidly climes to a point then drops back to follow the previously-established rate of decline.

Granted, I don't know if that is the basis for certain extreme predictions; I merely enjoy thinking I might just be right. 😉

 

[coolVariable]

There was an interesting article recently how solar activity influences radioactive decay (previously thought to be a constant).
The most interesting part was how it affects decay the instant there is activity (or very shortly after) vs. the 3 days it otherwise takes for solar matter (e.g. normal charged particles from eruptions/storms) to reach earth.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

CME - Coronal Mass Ejection. Sounds dirty....heehee (I'm like 12)


Anyway, I think a global disaster is just what this country needs. Most people in America now are self-centered, whiny, weak, spoiled little pussys and something like this will toughen us up some....

It's not going to toughen anyone up. Just the week, emo, and liberals will all die because they won't know what to do. "OMG, no Facebook // wrists"

 

[FTM0305]

If any of you are going to ragequit life prior to being killed in the 2012 solar storm. Be sure to send me all your monies right now. There is a donate link on my website to do this via pay pal.

Thanks emo kids.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

"Rendering GPS even more useless than ever"?

What? GPS is pretty useful IMO, but that's just me.

Yeah... I didn't get that either. Another case of reporters spreading misinformation on tech crap they don't understand?

 

[Krazy4Real]

I'll just rub on some SPF eleventy billion.

 

[dquan97]

If I wrap my pc and car in foil, will that be enough to protect them?